White House Denies Vaccines for Taiwan's Semiconductor Condition 美台以疫苗換晶片? 白宮發言人強烈否認

Taiwan's first TIFA talk with the US in five years opened virtually on June 30. The White House spokesperson denied speculations that her country decided to provide Taiwan with vaccines in exchange for semiconductor chips.
 

The first round of trade and investment framework agreement talks in almost five years between Taiwan and the US opened virtually on June 30. The former was represented by Yang Jen-ni of the Office of Trade Negotiations, while the latter was represented by Terry McCartin of the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
 

We have a very important agenda, which is simplifying import and export procedures for medical goods. This tangible cooperation will greatly help our attempts to control the epidemic right now.
 

The third batch of 410,000 Moderna vaccines purchased by Taiwan has already arrived at Taoyuan International Airport. On June 29, Tsai Ing-wen said efforts would be made to simplify import and export procedures for medical goods. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is denying reports that the US is providing Taiwan with vaccines only if Taiwan agrees to reciprocate with semiconductor chips.
 

It's in some way a quid pro quo to get access to semiconductors from Taiwan. There should not be that suggestion. I will know that they were being cut-off from access to vaccines, so that was a factor.
 

A day earlier, Psaki said the US would continue strengthening trade ties with Taiwan. Psaki further said the US has already expressed its stance on PRC encroachment on Taiwan. The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs will review its anti-China bill on June 30, which will likely strengthen US-Taiwan ties.
 

暌違近5年的台美貿易暨投資架構協定（TIFA）會議，30號上午透過視訊召開，我方由行政院經貿談判辦公室副總談判代表楊珍妮擔任主談人，駐美代表蕭美琴與會，美方則由美國貿易代表署助理貿易代表麥卡廷率各單位與談，觸及多項重要經貿議題。

總統 蔡英文表示：「我們有一項重要的議程，就是簡化疫苗等醫療物資的進出口程序，這些實質合作，對我們現階段的疫情控制，將會帶來重要的助力。」

30號下午我們自購的41萬計莫德納疫苗已抵台，總統蔡英文29號表示，TIFA會談將簡化疫苗等醫療物資進出口程序，只是美國是否會以疫苗換取台灣半導體作為交換條件，白宮發言人莎琪，對此強烈否認，更表示注意到台灣取得疫苗的途徑被截斷。

美國白宮發言人 莎琪表示：「（疫苗在某種程度上，是從台灣獲得半導體的交換條件？) 不應該有這種揣測，我們注意到台灣被切斷了獲得疫苗的機會，所以這是其中一個因素。」

莎琪前一天才表示美台貿易投資關係十分重要，美國會持續強化與台灣的經貿關係，更強調無論是公開場合還是私底下，美國已清楚表達對中國對台侵略的日益關切，美國眾議院外委會30號也將審議抗中法案，希望多方增進美台關係，強化對台承諾。