Chinese Vaccine Diplomacy

Up until a couple days ago the word was that Expats like me wouldn't have access to COVID vaccines until the end of the year. And I understood that. Why would Indonesia use any of its precious supply on citizens of other nations like the U.S. who have been unwilling, up to now, to share their supply or knowledge with developing nations?

China, a world power that seems to recognize better than most the opportunities to enhance relationships with developing nations, has jumped into the void. From the beginning they have shared their vaccine supplies with Indonesia.  And now they have taken it one step further and have worked with the Indonesian pharmaceutical industry to assist them in producing an internal supply of Sinovac, the Chinese COVID vaccine. Because of this second step and the increasing supply of vaccine in Indonesia, my University was able to obtain a supply of Sinovac for all its employees, including permission for us Expats to join in. 

Just received my first jab today. The average Trumpist would have been horrified and would have run away in a fit of ignorant fear to have entered a room where people were receiving a vaccine AND a Chinese-formulated one at that, but I was grateful to have begun the first step of the immunization process.




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