Power and

Inequality: Chinese
Diplomacy in
Southeast Asia
From development to distribution

ABAIN,BINUYA, CALICA,CALIZO,DAYANGHIRANG, GALAGAR,GONZALES,LUNTAYAO,MORAL,VALDEZ, ZOSIMO

 01 THE RACE FOR COVID-19 VACCINE

Content 02 SOFT POWER AND VACCINE DIPLOMACY

Outline 03 THEORETICAL APPLICATIOM

04 BEYOND COVID-19

GROUP 4
 The race towards COVID-19
vaccine

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 or also known as COVID-19

has instigated an extreme worldwide research &
development activity operations in order to produce a
vaccine.

Le, Tung Thanh; Andreadakis, Zacharias; Kumar, Arun; Román, Raúl Gómez; Tollefsen, Stig; Saville, Melanie; Mayhew, Stephen. (2020). The
COVID-19 vaccine development landscape. Nat Rev Drug Discov. Pg305-306. doi: 10.1038/d41573-020-00073-5. PMID: 32273591.
 A Global Challenge

Sharma, Omna; Sultan, Ali A; Ding, Hong; Triggle, Chris R. (2020). A Review of the Progress and Challenges of Developing a Vaccine for COVID-19.
Frontiers in Immunology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.585354
New Process of Vaccine Development

Sharma, Omna; Sultan, Ali A; Ding, Hong; Triggle, Chris R. (2020). A Review of the Progress and Challenges of Developing a Vaccine for COVID-19.
Frontiers in Immunology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.585354
 Sinovac
Moderna

AstraZeneca

Sinopharm (Beijing)
Sinopharm (Wuhan)
Invio Pharmaceuticals

BioNTech/FosunPharma/Pfizer
Candidates in Clinical Trials & Phase
August 20, 2020

Phase 3
Phase 3
Phase 3
Phase 3
Phase 3
Phase 3
Phase 1/2

Sharma, Omna; Sultan, Ali A; Ding, Hong; Triggle, Chris R. (2020). A Review of the
Progress and Challenges of Developing a Vaccine for COVID-19. Frontiers in
Immunology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.585354
 China's Vaccine Development

Efforts in maximizing the

production & supply of
vaccine.
Developed different types
of vaccines.

Meng, Zhigang; Shan, Shoujin; & Zhang, Ruilian. (2021). China's COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy and Its Impact on the Global Pandemic. Risk
management and healthcare policy, 14, 4649–4655. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S338701
 Unequal Distribution of Vaccine
China's participation in global development.

Meng, Zhigang; Shan, Shoujin; & Zhang, Ruilian. (2021). China's COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy and Its Impact on
the Global Pandemic. Risk management and healthcare policy, 14, 4649–4655.
https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S338701
 Contributing to the Global
Community
Joined WHO-led COVID-19 Vaccines Global
Access (COVAX).
Produced the first batch of COVAX.
At present, three enterprises in China have
carried out joint production with numerous
countries.

Meng, Zhigang; Shan, Shoujin; & Zhang, Ruilian. (2021). China's COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy and Its Impact on the
Global Pandemic. Risk management and healthcare policy, 14, 4649–4655. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S338701
SOFT POWER AND VACCINE DIPLOMACY
 SOFT POWER IS THE ABILITY TO OBTAIN
PREFERRED OUTCOMES THROUGH
ATTRACTION. IF A STATE CAN SET THE
AGENDA FOR OTHERS OR SHAPE THEIR
PREFERENCES, IT CAN SAVE A LOT ON
CARROTS AND STICKS.

Nye (2009) Get Smart: Combining Hard and Soft Power, Council on Foreign Relations.
 MAJOR ELEMENTS OF SOFT POWER

Culture
Values
Policies
"Attraction of one’s ideas or on the ability to set the political agenda in a way
that shapes the preferences that other express. "
“THE UNIVERSALISM OF A COUNTRY’S CULTURE AND ITS
ABILITY TO ESTABLISH A SET OF FAVORABLE RULES AND
INSTITUTIONS THAT GOVERN AREAS OF
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITY ARE CRITICAL SOURCES OF
POWER.” (NYE, 1990)

Nye (1990) The Changing Nature of World Power, Political Science Quarterly, Vol.105, No.2, pp.177-192
WHAT IS VACCINE DIPLOMACY
Vaccine diplomacy refers to almost any aspect of
global health diplomacy that relies on the use or
delivery of vaccines
 BRIEF HISTORY
The term vaccine is derived from vacca “cow” by Edward Jenner

He believes that "The sciences are never at war"

Started during the Cold war between the US and USSR when they
collaborated to develop a prototype oral polio vaccine.

early 2000s, vaccine are use as a key instrument in helping developing

nations to achieve their MDGs.
The power of vaccine diplomacy has been underexplored despite a noble track
record that included promoting peace between the Cold War powers of the 1950s
and 1960s.
Hotez, P. J. (2014). “Vaccine diplomacy”: historical perspectives and future directions. PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 8(6), e2808.
 VACCINE DIPLOMACY AS A VEHICLE
OF SOFT POWER
"A new channel through which major powers seek to curry favor and shape
the international environment to their benefit, doling out vaccines to favored
countries according to perceived national interest."
Leng et.al.,(2022)

Rajah, R., Leng, A., & Lemahieu, H. (2022). Vaccine Diplomacy in Asia.
"IF VACCINE DIPLOMACY IS THE NEW GREAT
GAME, IT IS BEING PLAYED WRONG BY ALL
SIDES, WITH THE RISK THAT NO ONE WILL BE
LEFT A WINNER."

Rajah, R., Leng, A., & Lemahieu, H. (2022). Vaccine Diplomacy in Asia.
 THEORY APPLICATION:
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM
 SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM

A Social theory is concerned with how to

conceptualize the relationship between agents
and structures
Known its ability to capture important features of
global politics and is viewed as an important
theory of international relations
Chance to think of alternative worlds and the
conditions that make them more or less possible
examine how actors make their activities
meaningful
 THE MOTIVATIONS BEHIND CHINA’S COVID-19
VACCINE DIPLOMACY

GROUP 4
Lee, S.T. (2021). Vaccine diplomacy: nation branding and China’s COVID-19 soft power play. Place Brand Public Diplomacy.
Zhang, D. & Jamali, A.B. (2022). China’s “Weaponized” Vaccine: Intertwining Between International and Domestic Politics. East Asia https://doi.org/10.1007/s12140-021-09382-x
Zaini, K. (2021). China’s Vaccine Diplomacy in Southeast Asia-A Mixed Record.
Repairing a Nation Brand: Vaccine as Catalyst of
China’s International Image

China's refraiming of image

as the country that accelerated the

virus’ spread through cover-ups to that
of the magnanimous global power
offering leadership at a time of
international leadership disarray (Lee,
2021)
Repairing a Nation Brand: Vaccine as Catalyst of
China’s International Image

Global efforts to reframe it's image:

donations of COVID-19 vaccines to countries

around the world
sharing its coronavirus experience.
sending medical equipment, test kits, masks,
gloves, and medical experts to hard-hit
countries
 Repairing a Nation Brand: Vaccine as Catalyst of
China’s International Image
The free vaccine policy helped improve China’s international
image and brought effects into three dimensions:

1. China effectively utilized this as a public diplomacy tool

for promoting bilateral cooperation as the savior of the
world.
2. China is observant of its global public perception and
image.
3. China remains keen to increase its soft power by
providing International Public Goods.
 PERCEPTIONS OF
SOUTHEAST ASIA
TOWARDS VACCINE
DIPLOMACY
 Historical Context
1996 China first used the "new security concept" in ASEAN
Regional Forum.

2002 Beijing signed a joint deceleration highlighting extensive

common interest in health issues.

2003 SARS epidemic and China recognize the importance of

cooperation in the international developmental arena

2015-2017 China's BRI begin to highlight health cooperation thus,

"a three-year implementation plan for advancing BRI health
Cooperation (2015-2017)

Karambelkar, A. (2021). China's Vaccine Diplomacy in Southeast Asia. Vivekananda International

Foundation. https://www.vifindia.org/sites/default/files/China-s-Vaccine-Diplomacy-in-
Southeast-Asia.pdf
establish a community of
shared future for mankind

Institute for Security & Development Policy. (2021, September). China's Health Diplomacy: Taking Forward the Health Silk Road in
Southeast Asia. Focus Asia Perspective & Analysis. https://isdp.eu/content/uploads/2021/09/Chinas-Health-Diplomacy-Taking-
Forward-the-Health-Silk-Road-in-Southeast-Asia-FA-03.09.21.pdf
China has been able to regain its
Health Silk Road and objectives to be
a global health leader

Institute for Security & Development Policy. (2021, September). China's Health Diplomacy:
Taking Forward the Health Silk Road in Southeast Asia. Focus Asia Perspective & Analysis.
https://isdp.eu/content/uploads/2021/09/Chinas-Health-Diplomacy-Taking-Forward-
the-Health-Silk-Road-in-Southeast-Asia-FA-03.09.21.pdf
CHINA'S VACCINE DIPLOMACY IMPLICATIONS
TO SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES

Karambelkar, A. (2021). China's Vaccine Diplomacy in Southeast Asia. Vivekananda International Foundation.
https://www.vifindia.org/sites/default/files/China-s-Vaccine-Diplomacy-in-Southeast-Asia.pdf
 China’s Vaccine Diplomacy in Southeast Asia

The Chinese government dislikes the term “vaccine

diplomacy”
Geographical proximity=good advantage in the
Southeast Asian vaccination race

Lee, S.T. (2021). Vaccine diplomacy: nation branding and China’s

COVID-19 soft power play. Place Brand Public Diplomacy
 Country Experience with Chinese Vaccines
In Southeast Asia, China's vaccines have hit some difficulties.
The Delta variant has shown to be the most difficult to
immunize against
1. INDONESIA
2. VIETNAM
3. MYANMAR
4. CAMBODIA AND LAOS
5. MALAYSIA
6. THAILAND
7. THE PHILIPPINES
Institute for Security & Development Policy. (2021, September). China's Health Diplomacy: Taking Forward the Health Silk Road in Southeast Asia. Focus
Asia Perspective & Analysis. https://isdp.eu/content/uploads/2021/09/Chinas-Health-Diplomacy-Taking-Forward-the-Health-Silk-Road-in-
Southeast-Asia-FA-03.09.21.pdf
Karambelkar, A. (2021). China's Vaccine Diplomacy in Southeast Asia. Vivekananda International Foundation.
https://www.vifindia.org/sites/default/files/China-s-Vaccine-Diplomacy-in-Southeast-Asia.pdf
What does these “perception”
means?
The perception towards China possess great
gravity. Regardless, whether it is vaccine
diplomacy or any diplomatic tactics, past
interaction with China and it’s global image will be
a great factor in the structuring of the social
relationship of China and other nation-states
especially the ASEAN.
Does China’s perception
matters?
Ogden (2017) pointed out how China views the world. The
perception of an aggressive and coercive international
system was fomented through Beijing’s negative experiences
during the ‘Century of Humiliation’.

Foot and Walter (2011) states also care about their image,
and are sensitive to international perception.
 Hedging and
Constructivism
When it comes to the ASEAN states, we can further explore the
area of. “Hedging” as a strategy and what role does
constructivism plays in this policy; how does State determine
when to support China and when not to support it, what
meanings of such phenomenons (that triggers the action)
possess.
 Benefits of the appreciation of
Constructivism by policy makers

With constructivism, policy makers of ASEAN states and other nation-states are given agency
and space to maneuver and determine what meaning does their interaction with China
possess.

As Theys (2018) said the discipline of International Relations benefits from constructivism as
it addresses issues and concepts that are neglected by mainstream theories.

The perception of ASEAN states, towards China, regardless whether it is good or bad, is
subject to time, history and change.
 World Systems Theory
Immanuel Wallerstein

Hobden, S. & Jones, R. (2014). Marx internationalized: from imperialism to world-systems theory. Globalization of World Politics, 6th edition, pp.145-147.
World Systems Theory
by Immanuel Wallerstein

There is a world economic system in which some countries benefit

while others are exploited.
Three-level hierarchy: the core, semi-periphery, and the periphery

Hobden, S. & Jones, R. (2014). Marx internationalized: from imperialism to world-systems theory. Globalization of World Politics, 6th edition, pp.145-147.
World Systems Theory
by Immanuel Wallerstein

Hobden, S. & Jones, R. (2014). Marx internationalized: from imperialism to world-systems theory. Globalization of World Politics, 6th edition, pp.145-147.
 UNEQUAL VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AND
VACCINE DIPLOMACY IN THE LENS OF WORLD
SYSTEMS THEORY
UNEQUAL VACCINE DISTRIBUTION

WORLD SYSTEM THEORY EMPHASIZED THE

SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE GLOBAL
INEQUALITY WHICH WAS FURTHER
ILLUSTRATED WHEN THE RACE FOR
ACCESSING VACCINES HAS TURNED INTO A
WAVE OF INEQUALITY BETWEEN CORE AND
PERIPHERY NATIONS
CHINA’S VACCINE DIPLOMACY: A SOFT
POWER?

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WAS ABLE TO

DEMONSTRATE ITS INFLUENCE IN THE REGION
BY MAKING CHINESE VACCINES AFFORDABLE
TO THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND BY
PROMOTING FAIR VACCINE DISTRIBUTION TO
ENSURE THAT NO COUNTRY IS LEFT BEHIND IN
THE MIDST OF PANDEMIC (ZAINI, K. 2021)
VACCINE NATIONALISM IN THE TIME OF A
PANDEMIC
WHAT IS VACCINE NATIONALISM?

ACCORDING TO KHAN (2021) VACCINE

NATIONALISM OCCURS WHEN GOVERNMENTS
SIGN AGREEMENTS WITH PHARMACEUTICAL
MANUFACTURERS TO SUPPLY THEIR OWN
POPULATIONS WITH VACCINES AHEAD OF
THEM BECOMING AVAILABLE FOR OTHER
COUNTRIES.
Officials have compared the global allocation
of vaccines against the coronavirus that
causes covid-19 to oxygen masks dropping
inside a depressurizing airplane. “You put on
your own first, and then we want to help
others as quickly as possible,” Peter Marks, a
senior official at the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration who oversaw the initial
phases of vaccine development for the U.S.
government, said during a panel discussion
in June.
Unequal Exchange?
The heart of the system lies
in the world-market where
Goldfrank (2000, p.170) states that “by
commodities are
‘unequal exchange’ Wallerstein refers to the
exchanged in unequal
processes or mechanisms that reproduce the
core-periphery division of labor.” The division terms.
of labor is what holds the system together.
Consequently, the world systems theory is all
about the emergence of capitalism and how
the world-market functions to keep the
system together. The market forces are
superior to the political forces as states are
mere tools for the dominant classes to distort
the world-market in their favor

·Vaccine allocation resembles the
classic game theory problem known
as “the prisoner’s dilemma”—and
countries are very much acting like
the proverbial prisoner.
• INSTEAD OF WORKING TOGETHER
TO CRAFT AND IMPLEMENT A
GLOBAL STRATEGY, A GROWING
NUMBER OF COUNTRIES ARE
TAKING A “MY NATION FIRST”
APPROACH TO DEVELOPING AND
DISTRIBUTING POTENTIAL
VACCINES OR OTHER
PHARMACEUTICAL TREATMENTS.
EXPLOITATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
CORE AND PERIPHERY
 WORLD SYSTEM THEORY EMPHASIZES THE
EXPLOITATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CORE
COUNTRIES AND PERIPHERY COUNTRIES, FOR
INSTANCE, VACCINE DIPLOMACY HAS BEEN USED BY
THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO WIDEN ITS TIES WITH
SOUTHEAST ASIA NATIONS BUT IN THE PROCESS,
HAVE STARTED EXPLOITING THESE ECONOMICALLY
WEAK STATES (DIPANJAN, 2010)
CONCLUSION
 WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE NEXT
PANDEMIC HAPPENS?

Developing countries, in general, have fewer

financial and technological resources to improve
pandemic preparedness. They also face certain
unique and tough circumstances, making
pandemic preparation more difficult. These issues
were not effectively addressed during the
planning process.