Japan to Pay Companies to Leave China

The Japanese government is working to reduce its dependency on Chinese supply chains, a move prompted by the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this, Japan has allocated $2.2 billion to encourage companies to increase production domestically or in Southeast Asia. The first round of subsidies, amounting to $560 million, has been announced, with further funds to be distributed to support investments in countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand.

What challenges did Japanese companies face during the pandemic regarding medical goods?

What is the total amount of subsidies announced by the Japanese government in the first round?