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The Chinese vaccine is particularly attractive to the poorest countries. Beijing has more prestige and influence in the world.
The vaccine, once available, will become a public good for everyone. Xi Jinping made this promise at the World Health Organization videoconference in May. Xi Jinping raised hopes, especially in developing countries, that they could receive the Covid vaccine for free. In October, however, Zheng Zhongwei, head of the vaccine working group at China’s National Health Commission, said the vaccine would be offered at a fair and reasonable price.
So what has become of the public good for the whole world? Jacob Mardell of the Mercator Institute for Chinese Studies in Berlin explains it like this: “I see it more as a rhetorical trick. China views much of what it does abroad as a global public good. It can be seen in projects of the Belt and Road Initiative. With such statements, China would like to present itself as a leading nation in the world. “
Moderna and Pfizer: Vaccines for Rich Countries
Mardell believes that China will charge something for the vaccine is realistic. After all, Chinese vaccines are likely to be significantly cheaper than most vaccines from Western pharmaceutical companies.
And: “Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are not only more expensive, the logistics are more difficult. Also, a handful of rich countries are buying these vaccines. That means that for many poorer countries only Chinese vaccines could remain. “
Legend:
Image of the laboratory of the Chinese company Sinovac, which is developing a Covid vaccine: China wants to deliver two billion doses of vaccines worldwide by the end of 2021.
Reuters
Because China itself has hardly any positive cases in its own country, China has its vaccines tested abroad, for example in Brazil or Pakistan. In return, these countries will receive preferential treatment for the delivery of vaccines. African countries should also benefit from favorable conditions.
China hopes this will improve its image, says Eric Olander, co-founder of the online portal “The China Africa Project”: “Imagine the images. Air China planes full of vaccines land in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The diplomatic gain would be huge. “
China’s so-called vaccination diplomacy is not without its risks, explains Eric Olander: “There is still a lot of skepticism in Africa about ‘Made in China’. China has a bad reputation in many developing countries for the quality of its products. ”Therefore, China will do everything in its power to ensure that vaccination diplomacy is a success and that it can present itself as the leading nation in the world.
No competition from the US in poor countries
“China has the advantage that the US government is not even trying to get involved in this area,” says Huang Yanzhong, a global health expert at the US think tank Council on Foreign Relations. The United States doesn’t even participate in the WHO-backed Covax vaccination program, but China does.
China can again present itself as a country that makes a global contribution, says Huang. And: “China’s participation in Covax could help with the commercialization of Chinese vaccines. Future support from the WHO would give Chinese vaccines international legitimacy. “
