Tzu Chi charity loses 10.6 billion NT$ in BNT vaccine fraud case
During the 2021 COVID‑19 pandemic, Taiwan's Tzu Chi Foundation sought to purchase 5 million doses of the BNT vaccine. The procurement was scammed, resulting in a loss of about NT$10.6 billion in consulting fees.
Taiwanese prosecutors have charged five individuals, including lawyers, with fraud and money‑laundering related to the scheme. The case resurfaced political debate over vaccine procurement; former health minister and current cabinet member Chen Shih‑chung said those who made false accusations should apologise, while Kuomintang chair Cheng Li‑wen criticised President Tsai Ing‑wen, former premier Su Tseng‑chang and former health minister Chen for not providing clear answers. Tzu Chi filed a lawsuit that led to the fraud’s exposure, prompting renewed scrutiny of pandemic‑era vaccine‑buying policies.
Entities: BNT vaccine · Chen Shih‑chung · Chen Yuxuan · Cheng Li‑wen · Five accused individuals · Li Yiru · Taiwanese government · Tzu Chi Foundation · Yan Bowen
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Prosecutors have charged five individuals with fraud and money‑laundering related to the case. (single source)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The procurement was defrauded of NT$10.6 billion in consulting fees. (multiple sources)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Kuomintang chair Cheng Li‑wen criticised President Tsai Ing‑wen, former premier Su Tseng‑chang and former health minister Chen for not providing clear explanations. (single source)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Former health minister Chen Shih‑chung said those who made false accusations should apologise. (single source)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Tzu Chi Foundation attempted to purchase 5 million doses of BNT vaccine in 2021. (multiple sources)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Tzu Chi filed a lawsuit that led to the exposure of the fraud. (single source)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The case revived public debate over vaccine procurement policies during the pandemic. (single source)