Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China's Distribution of Vaccines in Securitizing Health
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Christou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s
Distribution of Vaccines in Securitizing Health
Christou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu 10.22146/globalsouth.63086
University of Indonesia
Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia
christouimanuel@gmail.com
In the previous Pandemic of the H5N1 virus, the world is facing an uneven distribution of the
vaccine. The irony is that developed countries get more access to vaccines compared to the
country with more cases especially the global south countries. Today, the world is facing another
pandemic which is The Covid-19 Pandemic. The vaccine has been developed, but after the vaccine
is successfully produced, there is no assurance that the vaccine will evenly be distributed as
mandated by WHO. Based on these considerations, the researcher aimed to project the possibilities
of vaccine distribution from China to Global South countries. Researchers want to analyze the
influence of a country’s economic capacity and international politics on vaccine distribution,
especially with China by using analytic qualitative research. We will compare the political and
economic situation during the H5N1 pandemic and the political and economic situation during
the Covid-19 pandemic. Countries used for comparison are Kenya, Yemen, the Philippines, and
Indonesia. These four countries were chosen because they could represent different conditions of
political and economic relations. The main finding is how North countries tend to prioritize South
countries with a stronger political and economic bond to be the destination of its Covid-19 vaccine
distribution.
Keywords: Vaccine Distribution; Healthcare Security; Political and Economic Condition
Introduction vaccine to combat the pandemic. However,
The Pandemic of the H5N1 virus has after the vaccine is successfully produced,
exposed the uneven distribution of the vaccine. there is no assurance that the vaccine will
It is rather ironic that developed countries evenly be distributed as mandated by WHO
have more access to vaccines compared to (Mellen, 2020). In the previous outbreak of the
other countries with more confirmed cases, H5N1 virus, some developing countries cannot
especially in the Global South. In 2020, the afford access to vaccines due to the insufficient
world is facing another pandemic called The mechanism to ensure the availability of
Covid-19 Pandemic. the vaccine. In 2009, when the H1N1 virus
The Covid-19 vaccine was initially dispersed across state borders, the US has
discovered by Russia, despite the lack of pre-ordered approximately 30% to 60% of the
international trust. But on the other hand, world’s projected production of vaccines even
China has the most potential to produce a before it was declared as a pandemic.
Global South Review 189Christou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
Based on these considerations, the between the authorities who promote each
researchers aimed to project the possible other’s foreign policy interests through formal
scenario of vaccine distribution from China cooperation or tacit understanding. However,
to Global South countries. This is important diplomacy is not always carried out by
as the vaccine distribution draws a great professional diplomats. Diplomatic activities
concern over the south countries, considering can also be carried out by other authorities or
its high impacts on the domestic economy. The private individuals under the direction of an
authors would like to analyze the influence of a official or leader (Gurgu, 2016). Together with
country’s economic capacity and international the Balance of Power, which is reflected and
politics on vaccine distribution, especially strengthened, diplomacy is one of the most
with China. To achieve this objective, we important institutions in a society. Bilateral and
will examine the political and economic multilateral agreements are tools of diplomacy.
situation during the Covid-19 pandemic while Diplomatic relations between countries can
looking at several aspects and conditions in cover all sectors such as economy, health,
the distribution of vaccines during the H5N1 security, environment, education, and others. It
pandemic. To understand comprehensively the depends on the agreement between the parties
political and economic aspects of the vaccine involved on what sector or theme to discuss.
distribution, we would like to provide the The focus of diplomacy in this paper is health
readers with several concepts such as health diplomacy. According to the World Health
diplomacy, multilateral cooperation, bilateral Organization (WHO), the main objectives of
and multilateral cooperation, health securities, health diplomacy are; 1) Better health and public
as well as global north and south cooperation. health security, 2) improving relations between
These factors would cover the political and countries and the commitment of various actors
economic variables of the vaccine distribution. to work together and improve health quality,
and 3) achievement of the proceeds from the
Health Diplomacy proceeds will be used to support the goals of
Diplomacy is an important political reducing poverty and increasing equity (World
activity that acts as a major instrument of force Health Organization, n.d.). Health diplomacy
and plays a significant role in the distribution can cover many things such as cooperation on
of the vaccine. Sharp defines diplomacy as a public health, health security, health facilities,
synonym for statecraft, foreign policy, and collaborative research and development of
international relations, as well as the making of new vaccines, improving the quality of health
foreign policy by practitioners (Sharp, 2003). human resources, and so on.
Magalhaes sees diplomacy as defined through
four prisms: (1) foreign policy instrument, Multilateral Cooperation
foreign policy, international negotiations, and Multilateralism is a well-known term
the activity of diplomat (Hart & Siniver, 2021). in the context of diplomacy. This is also a tool
Diplomacy usually begins with communication used by several countries to help them provide
190 Global South ReviewChristou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
themself with vaccines. To make a clear that a country will pursue its national interests
context on this paper, we take the definition to obtain maximum benefits and the only way
of multilateralism from John Rugie (1992). to achieve this goal is to establish good and
He defines multilateralism as an idea of “an sustainable relations between countries.
architectural form” as well as an organizing In bilateral cooperation, the issue of
principle of international life. Multilateral cooperation discussed is an issue that is shared
is considered as a principal organizing by the two countries. In international relations,
organization that involves cooperative the process of bilateral cooperation between
activity between many countries. Multilateral two countries can be determined through three
cooperation is a form of cooperation between main motives, namely: 1) maintaining national
countries, ranging from three to an unspecified interests, 2) maintaining peace and, 3) improving
number of countries. Not all cooperation is people’s welfare. Cooperation between the two
multilateral, but all multilateral activities countries can cover various types of sectors
require cooperation. such as economic, environmental, social,
The urgency of this type of cooperation security, and health (Chinatsu, 2018).
was motivated by the fact that some of the Bilateral cooperation will be carried
problems that the world is facing cannot simply out if the cooperation has the potential to
be solved alone. Pandemics, natural disasters, generate benefits that can be used to achieve
development problems, and climate change are national interests. This cooperation usually
some of the problems that need cooperation begins with a discussion of what cooperation
between countries to solve. These problems to undertake and culminates in the signing
and challenges demand collective action as they of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
only can be defeated if no one is left behind. and then enters the implementation stage.
This is what underlies why multilateralism Subsequently, a supervisory team from the two
plays a significant role? in this unprecedented countries will be formed to work together to
era. We cooperate to combat our common monitor and evaluate the processes and outputs
problem as well as cross-border threat. of the cooperation that has been carried out.
Bilateral Cooperation Health Securities
Interactions between countries can take Security is a fundamental element
the form of bilateral and multilateral relations. that determines the survival of an individual,
These interactions made vaccine distribution community, organization, and state. This is
possible. Bilateral cooperation itself is a concept that is strongly linked to vaccine
cooperation between two countries. Bilateral distribution as the health securities are one of
cooperation is a cooperative activity that is the core elements that the world leaders are
directly supported by one country to another and attempting to protect by providing the vaccine.
vice versa. Kishan S. Rana (2002) argues that When we talk about security, it is difficult to
in bilateral diplomacy the main concept used is come up with a universal definition that is
Global South Review 191Christou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
accepted by everyone. However, security can chemical disasters and radiation hazards. 7) lack
be said as a condition that is free from threats. of food supply and, 8) poverty (Chiu et al., 2009)
Barry Buzan (1991) states that security is a however, do not share a common definition of
powerful tool for a political power to get the health security. This article aims to characterize
attention that is the interest of a country or a the notions of health security in order to clarify
certain group in the competition for government what constitutes the nexus of health and security.
attention. At present, the focus on security The concept of health security has evolved
issues has shifted from high political issues, over time so that it encompasses many entities.
such as war, toward low political. The authors Analyzing the health reports of four multilateral
pivot on health security issues. organizations (the United Nations, World
Health becomes a security issue as a Health Organization, Asia-Pacific Economic
result of the shifting focus of security from Cooperation, and the European Union. According
military threats to long-term threats that are to WHO, the biggest threats to world health
more widespread and visible after the Cold security are pandemics, health emergencies, and
War. Other factors that make the health sector a weak health system which not only threaten
become a security issue because the health human lives but have a far greater impact (World
sector is universal global importance beyond Health Organization, 2018).
political, cultural, and social interests. There
are various definitions of health safety. In 1994, Global North and South Cooperation
UNDP issued a Human Development Report To reach health security, several south
and mentioned health safety in the report. In countries establish cooperation with north
this report, health safety is aimed at ensuring countries. The term Global North and the
protection from diseases and an unhealthy Global South itself are used to describe and
lifestyle. In the Global South countries or differentiate two types of countries namely the
developing countries, the main cause of death industrialized and rich countries in the North
is infection. and the less industrialized and poor countries,
The Commission on Human Security mainly in the Southern hemisphere of the earth.
(CHS) in its 2003 report said that health is not Despite the geographical location, several North
only free from disease, but also a complete mental, countries with a high level of industrialization
physical, and social state, with good health as the located in the Southern hemisphere. This
foundation of human security because security also applies to some of the less industrialized
is about protecting human life (Commission on countries in the northern hemisphere.
Human Security, 2003). Common themes that This division uses some parameters such
fall into the scope of health security are: 1) new as productivity, life expectancy, unemployment,
diseases such as Covid-19, 2) infectious diseases, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per head.
3) deliberate use of chemicals and biology, 4) Political reasoning also contributes to the
violence, conflict, and humanitarian emergencies, division of North and South countries. The
5) environmental change and natural disasters, 6) Global South countries tend to form a coalition
192 Global South ReviewChristou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
since the developing countries mainly have a Current Vaccine Inventors and Distribution
common history of colonization. Plan during Covid-19
Both North and South countries held Before the vaccines were authorized to
cooperation. We can see clear cooperation be distributed, the Covid-19 vaccine candidates
between North and South countries after World must pass several steps of development
War II where the east and west block was trying (Corum et al, 2020). First, vaccine candidates
to influence the newly independent countries. should be tested in animals to see the effect on
Countries like the USA and the Soviet Union animals’ immunities. After a successful test
gave aid to countries in the Global South since on animals, scientists will proceed to the next
these Global South countries gained attention step which is the Phase 1 Safety Trials. In this
amid the cold war. phase, scientists will test the vaccine on a small
In the present day, cooperation group of people to measure the dosage, safety,
between the North and the South is also and level of effectiveness of these vaccine
driven by political and economic interests. candidates to stimulate the immune system.
This cooperation generates dependency of the The third step will be the Phase 2 Expanded
Global South countries on the Global North Trials. This phase similar to the previous phase.
countries (Pollins, 1985). On the other hand, The Phase 2 Expanded Trials aims to test the
this cooperation also helps the modernization vaccine’s safety and effectiveness, but the test
of the Global South countries. This kind of subjects are hundreds of people split into groups
cooperation is still essential since every country, of age to see how it affects people of different
regardless of the North or the South country, ages. The last step before early approval is the
holds a certain interest of other countries, not Phase 3 Efficacy Trials. This trial uses larger
only for charity reasons. groups of tests. It can involve thousands of
volunteers to see how many become infected.
Precedent Vaccine Distribution This trial will also reveal rare side effects that
The Covid-19 pandemic is not the first might not be found in previous trials.
pandemic in the modern era. Previously, the After series of tests, the vaccine
world was facing the H5N1 pandemic. In 2008, candidate will be eligible for approval. This
the H5N1 virus outbreak spread across the world, approval splits into two types. First, the early or
especially in Asia, Europe, and some parts of limited approval. This approval is given to the
Africa. Due to the insufficient mechanism to vaccine candidates that are still waiting for the
ensure the availability of the vaccine, some Phase 3 test result but due to the urgent need,
developing countries could not afford access it will be distributed for limited use only. The
to vaccines. Some developed countries had second type is Approval which is granted to the
purchased the vaccine in advance and left the vaccine candidates that have already passed the
developing countries like Indonesia, which had whole step of the vaccine test. Currently, China
one of the largest amounts of a confirmed case, and Russia are the leading countries in the
nothing to purchase (Kamradt-Scott, 2020). development of the Covid-19 vaccine. Russia
Global South Review 193Christou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
is the first country to register its Covid-19 the political relations between China and
vaccine, namely the Sputnik V. Foreign Kenya, Yemen, Indonesia, and the Philippines
scientists remain skeptical on the vaccine since as Global South countries which are used as
there is no evidence from a large scale of tests, examples in this paper.
or in other words, Russia skipped the Phase 3 The reason these four countries were
Trials (Ellyatt, 2020). Meanwhile China, as a chosen to represent the global south country
country where Covid-19 was first reported, is in cooperation with China is that these four
also leading the development of the vaccine. countries have various economic and political
Several vaccines have already been relations and interests with China at different
granted limited approval from the government. levels. In addition, the four countries have
These vaccine candidates are on the Phase 3 different economic and political powers which
Trials in several countries. China tested the will influence China’s willingness to cooperate
vaccine candidates in some South countries with them.
such as Argentina, Brazil, and Indonesia. These But first, we need to see how big the
countries are not leading on developing the economic strength of each country is. We can
vaccine, but in great need of vaccine since they see the economic strength of each country from
have a worsening case of Covid-19. The country the GDP annual growth rate from 2018 to 2020.
that volunteered to be tested for the vaccine
candidates will get more access to the vaccine. - China
This is how cooperation can work and benefit Figure 2.2. China’s GDP Annual Growth Rate
both parties. Indonesia has already dealt with from 2018-2021 (Trading Economics, n.d.)
China’s pharmaceutical companies like Cansino
and Sinopharm which will provide vaccines in Chart 1.
Indonesia starting in November 2020. China GDP Annual Growth Rate
The United Arab Emirates government
has approved Sinopharm’s vaccine for
emergency use in health care workers by
September 2020. In conclusion, the Russian
vaccine development is faster than the
development of vaccines by China in terms of
vaccine registration and permit. While in the Source: Tradingeconomics.com
other hand, the Russian vaccine obtains less
trust from scientists. In 2019, China’s GDP is 14.34 trillion
USD. The Chinese economy advanced 6.5
Political and Economic Relationship Between percent year-on-year in the December quarter,
Countries (Kenya, Yemen, Indonesia, the after a 4.9 percent growth in the third quarter
Philippines, with China) and above market consensus of 6.1 percent.
The political relations seen here are The latest reading pointed to pre-pandemic
194 Global South ReviewChristou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
growth rates, with industrial output rising the Accommodation and food service
most in 3-1/2 years in December. For full 2020, activity which includes the all-important tourism
the country’s GDP expanded 2.3 percent, the sector remained severely affected (-57.9% vs
slowest pace in more than four decades. Still, -83.2% in Q2), followed by education (-41.9%
China is likely to be the only major economy to vs -56.2%) and professional, administrative
avoid contraction due to the COVID-19 shocks activities (-12.3% vs -15.3%). Meanwhile,
(Trading Economics, 2020). strong growth was recorded in agriculture
In 2020, the primary sector went up (6.3% vs 7.3%); construction (16.2% vs 3.9%);
3 percent, with live pig inventory surging 31 mining & quarrying (18.2% vs 10%) and
percent. Industry advanced 2.6 percent, with information & communication (7.3% vs 4.6%)
manufacturing rising 3.4 percent, utilities 2 (Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2021).
percent, and mining 0.5 percent. The tertiary
sector expanded by 2.1 percent. Also, real estate - Yemen
investment grew 7 percent, with residential rising Figure 4.4. Yemen’s GDP Annual Growth Rate
7.6 percent and office building 5.4 percent. from 2018-2021 (Trading Economics, n.d.)
- Kenya Chart 3
Figure 3.3. Kenya’s GDP Annual Growth Rate Yemen GDP Annual Growth Rate
from 2018-2021 (Trading Economics, n.d,)
Chart 2
Kenya GDP Annual Growth Rate
Source: Tradingeconomics.com
In 2019, Yemen’s GDP is 22.58 billion
USD. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in
Source: Tradingeconomics.com Yemen expanded 2.10 percent in 2019 from
the previous year. Yemen is one of the poorest
In 2019, Kenya’s GDP is 95.5 billion countries in the world. Its economy depends on
USD. Kenya’s economy shrank 1.1% year- foreign aid and remittances from workers in
on-year in the third quarter of 2020, following neighboring golf states.
a downwardly revised 5.5% plunge in the The most important sector of the
previous period. It marks the first country’s economy is dwindling oil extraction, it accounts
recession in nearly two decades, as the adverse for around 70 percent of government revenue
effects of containment measures to curb and 25 percent of GDP. Agriculture is also very
COVID-19 infections continued to be felt. important as it employs over 50 percent of the
Global South Review 195Christou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
population. In recent years, the government has private consumption was somewhat sluggish
engaged in efforts to diversify the economy (0.49% vs 4.7 in Q3), with fixed investment
from dependency on oil. slowing sharply (4.19% vs 8.45%). Meantime,
As a result, there was a surge of government spending growth accelerated
investment in the development of infrastructure strongly (27.15% vs 16.93%).
for natural gas extraction. Yet, the political On the production side, activity fell for
instability in 2011 has undermined development agriculture, forestry and fisheries (-20.15% vs
efforts, resulted in damage to infrastructure, 1.01%), manufacturing (-0.38 vs 5.25%), and
rising unemployment, and high inflation wholesale trade, retail (-0.87% vs -5.68%).
(Trading Economics, 2020) In addition, output growth eased for mining
(1.65% vs 1.72%), construction (3.48% vs
- Indonesia 5.72%), and transportation and warehouse
Figure 5.5. Indonesia’s GDP Annual Growth (5.08% vs 24.28%) (Badan Pusat Statistik,
Rate from 2018-2021 (Trading Economics, n.d.) 2020)
Chart 4 - The Philippines
Indonesia GDP Annual Growth Rate Figure 6.6. Philippines’ GDP Annual Growth
Rate from 2018-2021 (Trading Economics, n.d.)
Chart 5
The Philippines Annual Growth Rate
Source: Tradingeconomics.co
In 2019, Indonesia’s GDP is
1.119 trillion USD. Indonesia’s economy
unexpectedly contracted 0.42% QoQ in Q4 Source: Tradingeconomics.com
2020, a missing market consensus of a 0.7%
growth and reversing from a record expansion of In 2019, the Philippines’s GDP is
5.05% in Q3, amid COVID-19 pandemic, with 376.8 billion USD. The Philippines economy
authorities imposing a second round of mobility shrank 8.3% YoY in Q4 of 2020, following a
curbs in capital Jakarta during September and marginally revised 11.4 plunge in the previous
October 2020 (Trading Economic, n.d.) quarter and compared with market expectations
External demand contributed of an 8.5% fall. This was the fourth straight
negatively to the GDP, as exports rose by quarter of contraction in the economy, and the
2.41% (vs 12.14% in Q3) while imports grew smallest contraction since Q1, as the economy
much faster by 16.28% (vs -0.08%). Besides, continued to recover from the COVID-19
196 Global South ReviewChristou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
shocks (Trading Economics, n.d.) In 1978, when President Daniel Arap
Private consumption (-7.2% vs -9.2% in Q2) Moi came to power, diplomatic relations
and fixed investment (-28.6% vs -37.1%) between the two countries developed rapidly.
contracted less. Also, net external demand When President Moi stepped down as president
contributed negatively to GDP, as exports in 2002, he and his government had successfully
dropped by 10.5%, while imports fell faster established close ties with China. The era of
(-18.8%). President Moi provided a basis for enhancing
Meanwhile, government spending cooperation between the two countries and
growth eased (4.4% vs 5.8%). On the smoothing investment flows. Diplomatic and
production side, activity contracted mainly for political relations between Kenya and China
mining and quarrying (-18.8%), manufacturing have been well established until now. One of
(-4.3%), construction (-25.3%); transportation the two countries’ cooperation is in the fields
and storage (-21.3%), wholesale and retail of economy, trade, and technology. Projects
trade (-4.1%). Considering the full year of to improve the welfare of the Kenyan people
2020, the economy shrank by 9.5% YoY, the such as the Moi International Sports Center,
steepest contraction since the series began in a generator-generating pit, the expansion
1946, reversing from a 5.9% growth in 2019. project of Eldret hospital, and the Gambogi-
Serem Highway are shreds of evidence that the
Relations between Kenya and China political relations between Kenya and China
As the fourth country to recognize are well-established after the Kenyatta regime.
Kenya’s independence, political relations
between Kenya and China began when Kenya Relations between Yemen and China
just declared its independence, on December The political relations between Yemen
12, 1963. On December 14, 1963, China and China go back a long time. China’s foreign
immediately established political relations with policy vis-a-vis Yemen from October 1949 to the
Kenya. Political relations between China and end of 1980 was influenced by the United States
Kenya started on an unsettled basis. After 1965, and the Soviet Union (Hinnebusch, 2003).
relations between the two countries became The financial and economic assistance
tense and were lowered to the level of charge from China to Yemen was so substantial that it
d’affaires (Tunai Mulati, 2019). exceeded the assistance offered by the Soviet
The unfavorable relationship between Union so that the two countries became rivals
China and Kenya during the Jomo Kenyatta with each other and the political relations
regime (1963-1978) was influenced by the between China and the Soviet Union were
Cold War which took place when the western fractured. In the 1980s, China reduced its
bloc led by the United States tried to spread aid and presence in South Yemen due to the
its liberalism ideology and the eastern bloc Soviet Union’s increasingly intense presence
led by the Soviet Union with its ideology of in South Yemen.
communism (Tunai Mulati, 2019). In the 1990s, China became a strong
Global South Review 197Christou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
supporter of the merger of South Yemen and Party of Indonesia to take power. The New
North Yemen into the Republic of Yemen. In Order government led by Soeharto suspended
this period, the relationship between China and diplomatic relations with China on October
Yemen was based on economic and political 30, 1967, and this continued for more than two
interests. China’s interest is increasing, and decades (Van der Kroef, 1989).
Yemen becomes one of the main suppliers of Diplomatic relations between Indonesia
oil commodities to China. Currently, Yemen is and China returned to life on August 8, 1990.
facing a civil war and the UN has determined The end of the Cold War was one of the factors
that the civil war in Yemen is the worst causing the normalization of diplomatic
humanitarian crisis in history. relations between the two countries. The
China plays a role in supporting modernization policy that led to China’s
political stability in Yemen. On July 13, 2017, rapid economic development succeeded in
the Chinese government successfully delivered persuading the Soeharto government to return
humanitarian assistance worth the US $ 22.5 to cooperate with China.
million containing food and medical supplies After the 1998 reformation, relations
through the Southern Yemeni port city of Aden between Jakarta and Beijing were getting
(Ramani, 2017). The political relationship better because the Indonesian government
between Yemen and China has been influenced saw the goodwill of the Chinese government
by a variety of phenomena ranging from the for Indonesia. China’s quick assistance to
Cold War to the current conflict in Yemen. Indonesia after the Tsunami on 26 December
However, China’s role in Yemen has remained 2004 further increased favorable sentiment
real over time. towards China. Currently, China is the third-
largest investor in Indonesia after Singapore
Relations between Indonesia and China and Japan. The cooperation that has been
Political relations between Indonesia established covers various sectors, starting from
and China have had their ups and downs. the economy, infrastructure, and health. Since
Diplomatic relations between the two countries China has numerous investments in Indonesia,
were first established on April 13, 1950 (Jie, China has a huge concern about its production
1994). President Soekarno’s foreign policy in Indonesia. This underlies the prioritization
which was very anti-neocolonialism and of vaccine distribution to Indonesia.
imperialism made Indonesia look for other
“friends” besides Britain and the United States. Relations between the Philippines and China
The close relationship between the two Diplomatic and political relations
countries led to the formation of the Jakarta- between the Philippines and China were formed
Beijing axis. Diplomatic relations between on June 9, 1975. Since then, the two countries
Indonesia and China were cut off as a result have cooperated to unexpected levels in trade,
of the September 30 Movement when China investment, agriculture, tourism, and others.
was suspected of supporting the Communist Since 1975, the two countries have signed
198 Global South ReviewChristou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
nearly 100 bilateral agreements covering a vaccine distribution. Health diplomacy is one of
wide scope - trade, infrastructure development, the activities carried out by state and non-state
energy, tourism, culture, sister cities, and others actors to improve global health standards. If we
(Clemente, 2017). In 2005, during President Hu talk about vaccine distribution, especially the
Jintao’s state visitation to the Philippines, he Covid-19 vaccine, there is currently a myriad
and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo agreed of discourse that postulates on the availability
to establish strategic cooperation to ensure of the Covid-19 by 2021.
peace and promote development between the Parties that are considered to have the
Philippines and China. But relations between potential to produce vaccines are SINOVAC
the Philippines and China have been turbulent, (China), Sinopharm (Wuhan Institute of
with the presence of some controversy and Biological Product and Beijing Institute of
disagreement. Biological Product, China), The ChAdOx1
During the reign of President Benigno (University of Oxford, United Kingdom), Ad5-
Aquino (2011-2016), bilateral relations nCoV (Cansino Biologics INC, China), Sputnik
between the two countries were accompanied V (Gameleya Research Institute, Russia),
by maritime disputes regarding the South Novavax (USA), and BNT-162 (BioNTech,
China Sea. At a time when the territorial Germany). The names of parties that are
dispute was at its height, the Philippines considered to have the potential to produce
faced the implementation of stricter trade and vaccines are already in phase 3, which is the
commercial rules from the Chinese authorities last stage before the vaccine is declared safe for
(Sudan Ravindran, 2012). production.
When President Duterte came to power, The world health agency, WHO, said
diplomatic and political relations between the that the distribution process of vaccines must
Philippines and China began to improve. The be evenly distributed throughout the world
“heating up” of bilateral relations after years at an affordable price and should not be
of “freezing” was influenced by President monopolized by any country with its national
Duterte’s pragmatic policies. President interests. However, we cannot deny that for
Duterte’s policies are considered more lenient the state, national interests are more important
and focus more on the economic and trade than international interests. Currently, vaccine
aspects of the Philippines with China (Damping, diplomacy activities have been carried out by
2020). However, the relationship between the countries in the world. Vaccine diplomacy is
Philippines and China is still accompanied by the most subtle form of state efforts to secure
territorial disputes. the Covid-19 vaccine for itself.
Indonesia itself is one of the countries
Health Diplomacy in Manners of Multilateral that has initiated vaccine diplomacy. “The
and Bilateral Cooperation main task of diplomacy is to open roads and
Health diplomacy or better known as access commitments to supply vaccines, both
Global Health Diplomacy affects the process of from bilateral and multilateral channels,” said
Global South Review 199Christou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
Indonesian Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi affect their ability to carry out vaccine diplomacy.
virtually, Thursday (22/10) when delivering As we know, the Covid-19 Pandemic hit the
a statement regarding Indonesia’s diplomacy world economy. The lockdown that occurs
performance for one year under Jokowi-Ma’ruf around the world holds the production and
Working Cabinet. The Indonesian Minister distribution activities that obstruct the global
of Foreign Affairs explained that Indonesia supply chain. The International Monetary Fund
had obtained several commitments to supply (IMF) predicts that Kenya’s GDP will fall from
vaccines, both through bilateral and multilateral 5.6 percent in 2019 to 1.0 percent in 2020. The
channels. This commitment comes from three pandemic handling fund corruption scandal that
vaccine manufacturers from China, namely recently rocked Kenya added to the problems
Sinovac, Sinopharm, and CanSino. that the country is already facing. Besides, the
Indonesia is also working with the government is struggling to pay off a sizeable
G-42 technology company from the United national debt - nearly a third of the budget -
Arab Emirates and with the UK’s leading leaving little fiscal space for a social safety net
pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca (The program, even if the global economy recovers
Jakarta Post, 2020). In an interview with by 2021.
Berita Satu journalists who were uploaded to Vaccine diplomacy carried out by the
YouTube with the title “60 Minutes with Retno Philippines with other parties especially China
Marsudi: Vaccine Diplomacy & Peace in a as the country with the most potential to produce
Pandemic Period”, Retno Marsudi stated that vaccines is also not running as effectively as
the vaccine diplomacy carried out by Indonesia Indonesia. The main obstacle faced by the
succeeded in securing commitments from the Philippines is due to the bad sentiment it has
state or vaccine makers of 20 to 30 million towards China due to the territorial conflict that
doses of vaccine by the end of 2020. And for always accompanies the relations between the
2021, 290 to 340 million doses of vaccine have two countries. Diplomats from the Philippines
been secured by Indonesia. felt that President Xi Jinping’s promise
Overall, Indonesia has guaranteed regarding the Philippines to get priority access
cooperation with 120 parties, namely 11 to the Covid-19 vaccine was one of China’s
countries, 12 international organizations, and efforts to take over the West Philippine Sea. As
97 NGOs. As we are facing two choices of President Rodrigo Duterte said in a speech on
approaches in obtaining vaccines, which are the State of the Nation Address 2020 which was
bilateral and multilateral approaches, Indonesia broadcasted on the national television station
chose both approaches to effectively fulfill the in July 2020, that there is no such thing as “free
Indonesian needs of Covid-19 Vaccine. lunch”. President Duterte said that,
Indonesia is intensively pursuing
vaccine diplomacy, especially with China. “Chinese diplomats are not going to say:
This is different from Kenya, Yemen, and the recognize our claims in exchange
Philippines, whose domestic conditions greatly for vaccines, but the quid pro quo will
200 Global South ReviewChristou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
be understood,” Poling said. “There’s Does the Status of Global North and South
going to be an expectation that if you Countries Affect the Vaccine Distribution
want early access to these vaccines, you Process?
will avoid certain Chinese red lines. Currently, the development of Covid-19
And the South China Sea is one of vaccines is being led by North countries since
them.” it has more advanced technology and science.
The status of a country as a South country will
If Kenya is affected by its low economic intervene in the access of respective countries
capability and the Philippines is affected by to the Covid-19 vaccine. These countries have
unfavorable political sentiment towards China little to zero technology to develop vaccines
as one of the most potential parties to establish for themselves. As developing countries with a
vaccine diplomacy, Yemen is well faced with a small income, these countries found difficulty
devastated economy and an unstable domestic in purchasing vaccines since their high pricing
political climate due to civil war. Yemen’s (United Nations, 2021).
internal affairs have not been stable since the On the other hand, North countries
civil war erupted in 2015, making it difficult for with more advanced technology have an
Yemen to implement its foreign policy. Yemen interest in the Southern countries in several
is one of the countries that desperately need an aspects, namely economy, moral obligation,
even and unimpeded distribution of vaccines. and politics (Krüger, n.d.). These interests will
However, Yemen can almost completely lead countries to help the South countries to
depend on international assistance regarding access the Covid-19 vaccine. This condition
the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine and is related to the international cooperation and
cannot carry out vaccine diplomacy and ensure economic benefit in the intellectual property
the commitment of those who have the potential right which will be further elaborated in the
to produce Covid-19 vaccines such as China. next part. Indonesia, Yemen, Kenya, and the
So that based on the above-mentioned Philippines are countries that are included in
exposure, vaccine diplomacy affects vaccine the Global South group although several parties
distribution. The ability of a country to carry claim that Indonesia and the Philippines are
out diplomatic vaccines is influenced by developed countries but there is no unanimous
domestic factors such as the political and statement regarding the status of the two
economic power possessed by the country (The countries. As has been explained above, the
Conversation, 2021). Although the UN and economic and political conditions of the four
WHO stated that vaccine distribution needed countries are different. Yemen and Kenya are
to be carried out transparently and equitably, considered to have the weakest economic and
this statement did not regulate the measures political conditions. Therefore, the domestic
to enable states to secure the production of the problems they experience naturally affect their
Covid-19 vaccine for their own countries. performance in carrying out health diplomacy
activities and securing vaccine production for
Global South Review 201Christou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
the national security of their country as has test before the global community”
been done by Indonesia. However, the political António Guterres proposed the
relations between Kenya and Yemen, and China establishment of an emergency task force by the
are quite good. So, there is a possibility that the G20 countries to prepare and help implement the
two countries will get vaccines from China, as global immunization plan. The task force will
President Xi Jinping said, China promises to have the capacity to mobilize pharmaceutical
distribute vaccine aid to developing countries, companies and key industry and logistics
especially countries on the African continent actors. This is a WHO commitment so that the
(Jingxi, 2020). distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine can be
The Philippines has better economic carried out fairly regardless of the economic
and political conditions than Kenya and and political strength of a country.
Yemen. However, the condition of his political
relationship with China, which is one of the Conclusion
most potential actors to produce vaccines, is Based on the previous elaborated
not going well. This of course is influenced by consideration, we conclude Political and
territorial disputes which in the last 5 years, economic relations between countries can
often accompany the relationship between the influence the distribution of the Covid-19
two countries. President Duterte considered vaccine. When a country has intense and
that Xi Jinping’s statement stating that he mutually beneficial political relations with
would grant special access to vaccines for the other countries, it is reasonable to establish
Philippines was China’s attempt to use their cooperation, particularly in distributing
soft power to claim Philippine territorial waters vaccines. If a North country has a huge
(Abigail, 2020). On the other hand, there is interest in a South country, it is more likely
Indonesia with the best economic and political for the North country to send vaccines to that
conditions when compared to the previous particular South country. The next conclusion
three countries. is that the economic dimension, which consists
A large budget and relatively stable of investment and intellectual property right
domestic political conditions enable Indonesia plays a significant role in the Covid-19 vaccine
to carry out its health diplomacy activities to distribution. The more intense the foreign
the fullest. This of course makes it easier and direct investment between the two countries
if one can say guarantees Indonesia to get the or more, the higher the chances of getting a
distribution of vaccines quickly and safely. vaccine. Based on these two considerations,
WHO emphasized to the international we conclude that global South countries access
community that the distribution of the to the Covid-19 vaccine depends on respective
Covid-19 vaccine needs to be done fairly political and economic proximity to North
and transparently. WHO Secretary-General, countries
António Guterres said that “at this critical
moment, vaccine equity is the biggest moral
202 Global South ReviewChristou Immanuel; Theo Gerald Parluhutan Napitupulu Scrutinizing the Political and Economic Dynamics of China’s Distribution of
Vaccines in Securitizing Health
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