China is faltering early access to a coronavirus vaccine, it hopes to develop to select countries as Beijing seeks to punish strategic relations by the pandemic, according to a report.
China’s Foreign Ministry announced to the Philippines that it would have priority access to a COVID vaccine, and Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a private Chinese company, will partner with Brazil and Indonesia to produce hundreds of millions of doses for their use, the Wall Street Journal on Monday.
China also worked out an agreement with Pakistan, one of its closest allies, to allow China National Pharmaceutical Group to conduct clinical trials in the country in exchange for receiving doses to distribute to about one-fifth of its 220 million population, he said. the report.
Russia could also produce a vaccine developed by the Chinese army if the Russian Ministry of Health gives its approval.
Of the six vaccine candidates in the final stages of testing, three Chinese state and private companies are involved, the newspaper reported, citing the World Health Organization.
The remaining three are being developed by companies in the US, the UK and Germany.
Beijing began selling masks and medical supplies to countries earlier this year in an attempt to generate goodwill after the Communist Party was criticized for its irresponsible handling of the coronavirus after the first cases in Wuhan were reported.
Thomas J. Bollyky, director of global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, told the newspaper that vaccines would be more limited than the supply of masks in the initial stages of production.
“It will be on another level,” he said. “That’s why fascist nationalism is starting to bite.”
Allegations by Russia that it had developed a vaccine for coronavirus were met with widespread skepticism, and the WHO said it would review the findings.
But Moscow said up to 20 countries have already been reached to request access.
The tactic comes with serious consequences on the world stage for China.
“It can be embarrassing if a vaccine does not work, if there are later security issues, or if companies are unable to deliver what they promised,” said John J. Donnelly, principal at California-based Vaccinology Consulting LLC, told the Wall Street Journal.
.
