US Condemns Political Use of Vaccines After China-Taiwan Tussle

US Condemns Political Use of Vaccines After China-Taiwan Tussle
Honduras' President Juan Orlando Hernandez speaks during a joint message with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) acting Secretary Chad Wolf (not pictured), at the Presidential House in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Jan. 9, 2020. Jorge Cabrera/Reuters
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WASHINGTON—The United States stands with Honduras and condemns the “cynical use” of COVID-19 vaccines for political purposes, the State Department said, after Taiwan blasted China for seeking to use vaccines to make diplomatic inroads with one of Taipei’s allies.

Honduras, among a small number of Latin American countries to maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan, has said it was considering opening an office in China in a bid to acquire much-needed COVID-19 shots, prompting Taipei to criticize Beijing for pushing a vaccine-for-recognition deal.