Taiwan’s government has tried for months to buy the vaccine directly from BioNTech and has blamed China, which claims the self-ruled island as its own territory, for nixing a deal the two sides were due to sign earlier this year. China denies the accusations.

Last month, facing public pressure about the slow pace of Taiwan’s inoculation programme, the government agreed to allow Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of Taiwan’s Foxconn, as well as TSMC to negotiate on its behalf for the vaccines, which would be donated to Taiwan’s government for distribution.

“There are multiple parties. We are in the middle of the contract signing process. We will make announcements once the process is completed,” TSMC said in a brief emailed statement, without elaborating.

Gou’s spokesperson, BioNTech and Fosun did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Speaking to reporters later on Sunday, Premier Su Tseng-chang would only say that talks for the vaccine were ongoing.

“As soon as there is an definite outcome, we’ll naturally report it to everyone.”

Gou and TSMC this month reached an initial agreement with a subsidiary of Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd, which has a contract with BioNTech to sell the Covid-19 vaccines in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, sources told Reuters.

Both Gou and TSMC are seeking 5 million doses each.