[ad_1]
China has taken advantage of this epidemic to vigorously develop vaccine diplomacy. But Southeast Asians prefer to choose to be on the American side.Image: Snapshot from China Kexing Biotechnology Company’s official website
The Wuhan pneumonia epidemic has spread across the world. So far, at least 16 million people have been diagnosed and 2.329 million people have died. China seized the opportunity to launch vaccine diplomacy and even used it to get Guyana to cancel Taiwan’s office. However, a survey conducted by the ASEAN Research Center of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore found that while 44.2% of Southeast Asians believed that China had provided the most aid during the epidemic, it was much higher than that of Europe, the United States. United States, United States and Japan, but if they are forced to choose between the United States and China, 61.5% of Southeast Asians choose the United States.
From November 18 last year to January 10 this year, the Yusof Isaac Institute for Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore conducted a survey of 1,032 academics, government officials and businessmen from the ten ASEAN countries. When asked which country helped Southeast Asia during the epidemic period, 44.2% of respondents thought it was China, 18.2% thought it was Japan, 10.3% thought it was the European Union, and 9.6% thought it was the United States.
China is actively reaching agreements on vaccines with countries in Southeast Asia. Sinovac is the only vaccine obtained in Indonesia and it is preparing a mass vaccination plan. The Philippines and Malaysia received 25 million doses and 14 million doses from the Chinese company last month. Foreign Minister Wang Yi also promised 300,000 doses to Myanmar in January.
However, if forced to choose a position to compete in the United States and China, 61.5% of those surveyed said they would choose the United States over China. The support of these Southeast Asian elites for the United States has increased by 7.9% compared to last year’s survey.
76.3% of those interviewed said that China is the most influential economic power in the region. In Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar and Cambodia, more than 80% even believe that China’s influence is greater than that of the United States, the European Union and Japan countries and regions. However, 72.3% of those who believe that China has the most influence are “concerned about China’s growing regional economic impact.”
Likewise, 49.1% of those surveyed believe that the most influential political and strategic power in Southeast Asia is China, leading the proportion of the United States (30.4%). But 88.6% of those who think China is the most influential worry. 46.3% believe that China intends to make Southeast Asia its sphere of influence.
Among the world’s major powers, those in Southeast Asia are also the least wary of China. Sixty-three percent of Southeast Asian elites stated that they are “not confident” or “not so sure” that China can do the right thing.
A report by the Yusuf Isaac Institute for Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore noted that the confidence deficit of Southeast Asians in China is increasing. In the report for the same period last year, 60.4% had no confidence in China. China’s political and economic influence in Southeast Asia has brought people’s vigilance instead of goodwill. Most Southeast Asians are concerned that China’s political and economic influence, combined with its military might, could be used to threaten the interests of Southeast Asian countries and erode the sovereignty of these countries.
[ad_2]
