Japan will provide Taiwan with 1.24 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine for free, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said, just hours before the shipment was due to be delivered.

Taiwan is battling a spike in domestic infections and has vaccinated less than three per cent of its population. Japan has contracted to procure more than 300 million doses of coronavirus vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca, more than enough to cover its entire population.

"The relationship between Taiwan and Japan has always been extremely close, and our friendship is firm and deep," Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Whenever disasters or accidents occur, both sides immediately lend a helping hand to each other and send help in the hour of need."

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