The US Public Diplomacy believes that vaccine diplomacy is becoming a variable in motion a new form of geopolitical and soft power competition in the world. The breakout of COVID-19 has been followed by distribution of Chinese manufactured anti-COVID vaccines under vaccine diplomacy toward vulnerable countries in exchange for economic and political benefits. The policy of “America First” in the US policy and the US withdrawal form the World Health Organization, as its biggest financial supporter, not only disappointed many countries relied on the US, but they also open the gates for spreading China’s vaccine diplomacy. In Latin America today most of the countries are recipient of the Chinese vaccines. According to the US officials, vaccine diplomacy is a method of China’s penetration in Latin America and a vital threat to the US interest, so as to make it necessary to study the recent US government actions to withstand China’s vaccine diplomacy.
China’s Vaccine Diplomacy in Latin America
Expansive China’s vaccines distribution, vaccine in return for political and economic benefits and the Chinese government’s policy to giving loans to Latin America for buying Chinese vaccines are defined under vaccine diplomacy. Despite the rumors about Chinese vaccines lower efficacy in combating COVID-19, all Latin American countries, except Surinam and the French Guyana, are covered by China’s vaccination program. For instance, Mexico is the biggest buyer of Chinese vaccines, even though it is a neighboring country to the US. The Chinese COVID-19 vaccines, in spite of disputes over their inefficacy, entered Brazil and Paraguay. In return, the Chinese ask for the upper hand in the Brazilian and Paraguayan information technology infra-structure (e.g. Huawei 5G Mobile Network). Paraguay, which is among those 15 countries recognizing Taiwan, is believed to have turned to Chinese policy as a result of vaccine diplomacy. Another incentive can be thought of as $1 billion loan to Latin countries and the Caribbean in July 2020, provided by Chinese government.
The Reflection of China’s Vaccine Diplomacy Threating Americans
Threatening of China’s Vaccine Diplomacy has been reflected in the US Army Officials and the Congress reports, as Navy Adm. Craig S. Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee March 16, stating that penetration of China’s Communist Party through mask and vaccine diplomacy threatening the US in the Western hemisphere. In a report from Congressional Research Service, the US engagement with WHO and COVAX considered to be fruitful, yet it is stated that some Members of Congress remain concerned about China’s influence in WHO and in related vaccine efforts. Several bills have been introduced that aim to place conditions on U.S. contributions to WHO, like the one that would prohibit any U.S. contributions to WHO as long as China remains a member of the organization.
The US Solutions for China’s Vaccine Diplomacy
Applying the policy “America First” and the US inactivity in vaccine diplomacy are believed to be among factors speeding development of China’s vaccine diplomacy in Latin America. On the one hand, the US officials did not show any interest in mixing anti-COVID vaccine and politics, and on the other the White House is doing some but not enough to confront China’s vaccine diplomacy:
- The US sending vaccines to Canada and Mexico, in March;
- The US preparing 60 million doses for export in April;
- Biden pledged $4 billion to COVAX vaccine program;
- Implementing on “selling surplus vaccines”, after adult vaccination completion in the USA;
- Moreover, the US is sending military and intelligence officials to Latin America in order to build trust, support and offer grants in health and military. Craig S. Faller’s travels to the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Argentina have brought it to negotiation to build field hospitals, emergency centers and provide exploring equipment. Juan Gonzales, Special Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director for the Western hemisphere, accompanying Julie Chung, United States Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, traveled to Columbia, Argentina and Uruguay for talks on priority of COVID-19 crisis in Latin America’s priorities.
Analysis
There are a number of suggestions made to the US government in this case: the Congressional Research Service report believes the US will benefit reengagement with the WHO and COVAX vaccine program, yet the Chinese influence in this organization raised concerns inside the senate, and some ascertain that the US engagement with WHO is not beneficial until China is a member of this origination. Washington Post is suggesting the US officials continue on loaning surplus vaccines to other countries in the Western hemisphere, as they have already did with Canada and Mexico. Center for Strategic and International Studies recommended Biden administration to implement on investment increase, private sector development and financial aids (Like $4 billion loan to Northern Triangle Countries) to countries turning to Chinese diplomacy, as a result of the emergence of left-wing populist regimes in Latin America.
