China says “suspicious intentions” in US pledge to donate COVID-19 vaccines

China said on Tuesday, it welcomed the US commitment to donate millions of coronavirus vaccine doses to countries in need but also accused Washington of having “suspicious intentions” against China with its pledge.

US President Joe Biden said on Monday that the United States would send 80 million free doses of Covid-19 vaccines overseas, saying the total was more than that pledged by China and Russia.

Biden also said the US wanted to “lead the world with our values” amid “a lot of talk about Russia and China influencing the world with vaccines”.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday that Beijing welcomed the commitment but the focus on China was “contemptible”.

China has promised to provide 10 million doses under the Covax scheme, backed by the World Health Organization, for lower and middle-income countries.