With rising tensions between the United States and China, the number of deliveries is more than three times the number of shots that Washington previously allocated to the island.

The United States announced that 2.5 million doses of COVID vaccine are being shipped to Taiwan, which is more than three times the number of vaccines previously allocated by Washington to the island, which is facing increasing political and military pressure from China.

Washington competed with Beijing to deepen its geopolitical influence through so-called “vaccine diplomacy”. Initially, it promised to donate 750,000 doses of vaccine to Taiwan. However, as President Joe Biden’s government promoted its global distribution of 80 million U.S.-made vaccines. As promised, this number has increased.

Turn it up! The 2.5 million doses of vaccine we donated are being shipped to Taiwan, and Taiwan’s health partnership with the United States has helped save lives here and around the world. @StateDept Proudly support @POTUS‘Committed to helping the world overcome COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/J0rgy753bs

— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) June 19, 2021

Earlier this month, when tensions between Washington and Beijing were heating up, the US senator visited Taiwan and announced the donation of vaccines. China expressed anger.

“Last round! The 2.5 million doses of vaccine we donated are being shipped to Taiwan,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price wrote in a tweet on Saturday.

China regards Taiwan as an inalienable part of its territory and has repeatedly offered to provide coronavirus vaccines to the island, which has been struggling with the peak of domestic infections. Taipei has expressed concerns about the safety of Chinese shooting.

thank you #we For this touching gesture of friendship.These vaccines will greatly help maintain #Taiwan Safe and healthy. https://t.co/KnpN7xglyA

— Tsai Ing-wen Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) June 19, 2021

In recent years, Beijing has exerted economic, military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan and excluded it from international institutions such as the World Health Organization.

Washington remains Taiwan’s largest ally, but it does not maintain full diplomatic relations with Taipei because it officially recognizes Beijing.

Until recently, Taiwan was praised for its handling of the pandemic, and only a few deaths were recorded.

But after the outbreak of airline pilots, cases surged.

“Thanks to #US for making such a touching gesture of friendship. These vaccines will greatly help keep #Taiwan safe and healthy,” Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen wrote on Twitter.