Part 3/13:
Under the Shadow of Bribery and Controversy
Sinovac’s ascent was marred by allegations of corruption. In 2016, founder and CEO Yin Wei Dong admitted to paying $83,000 in bribes to government officials to expedite vaccine approvals—a revelation that cast a shadow over the company’s integrity. Although the officials involved were prosecuted, Yin Wei Dong was not criminally charged. Over a span of years, at least 20 Chinese officials accepted bribes from Sinovac employees, but no charges were levied against the company or its top executives.