Vaccine Diplomacy: Interpreting China and Russia’s COVID-19 Assistance

The fight against the global pandemic rages on even after more than a year since its outbreak. Over the past few months, China and Russia have been sending millions of Covid-19 vaccines to different states, mostly to developing nations. Through this, the two countries hope to improve bilateral relations with recipient countries, strengthening each of their global presence in turn.

This phenomenon has come to be known as “vaccine diplomacy” which, for the most part, is definitely a long game. Rather than aiming for short-term needs, China and Russia hope to cement their influence for the years to come. It should come as no surprise that this type of assistance will come with strings attached.

Deals made around vaccine diplomacy are concluded between states making them more geopolitical rather than business-oriented. For instance, in return for their assistance, China and Russia would hope to receive some backing from recipient nations at the United Nations in the future. It’s also a form of projecting power in an attempt to reshape global perceptions.

This is especially true for China, which has received a lot of flak from the international community, believed to be the cause of the global health crisis.

“There is this argument that mask diplomacy, and now vaccine diplomacy, is about China trying to rehabilitate its image on the world state given that it’s been tagged as the source for Covid-19,” said professor of Political Science at the University of Minnesota Tanisha Fazal.

However, the economics behind vaccine diplomacy shouldn’t be overlooked. In fact, in some cases, this is seen to be the primary driver for providing assistance. Through the improvement of bilateral relations, China and Russia also serve to be at the forefront of facilitating better trade deals or opening doors to abundant resources.

Likewise, the two countries aim to protect their existing investments or perhaps fast-track the approval of proposed projects in recipient countries. It’s also important to note that China and Russia are selling their vaccine doses as opposed to donating them. China’s state-owned firms have even been known to compete with private companies to secure vaccine supplies.

The two countries have been establishing vaccine facilities across the world, most of which are located in emerging countries, and training local workers for production to fulfill commercial goals. Moreover, Russia immediately engaged in discussions with Bolivia after sending vaccines. Talks involved nuclear projects and access to its mines that produce rare earth minerals.

In contrast, Western powers have mostly been absent from vaccine diplomacy causing their political and economic influence to slowly dwindle. They have been more focused on inoculating their respective populations first, already stockpiling more than half of the global supply for the year.

It was only last month when the US along with Japan, India, and Australia agreed to fund vaccine production and delivery in Asia. Although, perhaps they are already too late. China and Russia have primarily been targeting nations caught in the “vaccine vacuum” where there is a perceived failure of Western states to provide assistance.

The Philippines is among those within this vacuum, which has consistently been receiving shipments of China’s Sinovac vaccine. It was in January when China announced its first vaccine donation of 500,000 doses along with a ₱3.27-billion grant to the Philippines during Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s meeting with President Duterte.

As a result, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) urged Chinese corporations, among other foreign firms, to take advantage of the numerous investment opportunities present in the country. However, maritime tensions around the West Philippine Sea continue to rise despite China’s aid.

More recently, around 15,000 doses of the first batch of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine are already making their way to the country as well. The supply is set to arrive in Manila by May 1 to be followed by more shots in the coming weeks and months. How these will shape the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Russia remains to be seen.

China and Russia are undoubtedly leading in vaccine diplomacy by a wide margin, not just in the Philippines but globally. While Covid-19 vaccines were essentially developed as health solutions, it’s become quite clear how they have since transformed into tools for both diplomatic and economic gains.

Yet, the bottom line remains: as the global pandemic persistently debilitates the world even in the face of national vaccine rollouts, the struggle against this health crisis continues.

References: The Economist Intelligence Unit, Quartz, Inquirer, ABS CBN