China pressured Nepal to accept its vaccine: Leaked documents

Kathmandu, February 7

Leaked documents of correspondence between Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu show that Beijing had put pressure on the Himalayan country to accept its Covid vaccine without its efficiency and efficacy being established.

The Nepali media on Sunday published stories on the basis of the leaked correspondence which show how China made Nepal accept its Sinovac vaccine produced by Sinopharm without any further delay.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephone conversation with his Nepali counterpart Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on Friday and put pressure to accept the vaccines first under the condition that the details about the vaccines will be sent afterward; a topsy-turvy way of vaccine procurement. “Necessary documents will be provided later, but take the vaccine immediately,” as per the letter the Chinese Embassy sent to the Nepal government, warning that otherwise the country may need to wait quite long to get the vaccine. The Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu is yet to confirm the validity of the letter, but Nepali officials confirmed that it was genuine.

With Nepal raising concern about the Chinese vaccine, China told Nepal to transport the Sinopharm vaccines immediately and that the relevant documents, including the legal disclaimer, may be provided simultaneously or later. Earlier, the Nepali side had sent a letter to the Chinese Embassy in Nepal saying the company supplying the vaccine had not provided the required documents. — IANS