US anxious over vaccine deals between China and LatAm

Hegemonic mind- set unsuitable with waning sway

The US is getting anxious amid news that Chinese COVID- 19 vaccines are being delivered to more Latin American countries, including Uruguay that will receive its first batch from Sinovac on Thursday, while Pfizer deals with the region appear slow.

The first batch of 198,000 doses will arrive in Uruguay on Thursday, local media reported. The country also purchased from Pfizer- BioNTech, and the first shipment is scheduled in March.

Argentina approved emergency use of Chinese producer Sinopharm’s vaccines on Sunday and the shipment of the first one million doses will arrive in the next few days, Buenos Aires Times cited Argentina’s new Health Minister Carla Vizzotti as saying on Monday.

Mexico received the raw materials for 2 million doses of the CanSino vaccine developed by China and approved the emergency use of Sinovac vaccines on February 10 after Pfizer production delays resulted in vaccinations coming to a near standstill, media reported.

Chile and Columbia have also received batches of Chinese vaccines.

But such cooperation with developing countries is frequently referred to as “vaccine diplomacy” and the Associated Press reported that China’s growing economic and diplomatic influence in the region has worried US policymakers as a “national security threat.”

Chinese experts pointed out such thoughts were misjudging China’s activities based on the US’ own zero- sum mindset. It has the tradition of cultivating an agent adjacent to competitors and expects China to do the same.

Xu Shicheng, a research fellow at the Institute of Latin American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences ( CASS), told the Global Times on Tuesday that China’s vaccine deals are not exclusive and China always welcomes cooperation with Latin American countries.

“China does not aim to and cannot take all vaccine orders from the region. The US should be their priority supplier, but the reality is the US is busy with its own affairs,” Xu said.

Pfizer vaccines are first given to Americans and core US allies, while Latin America falls far behind on the waiting list, analysts said.

Lü Xiang, a research fellow on US studies at the CASS in Beijing, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the Monroe Doctrine is still dominating so that the US is anxious of losing its backyard.

China not only provides vaccines but also authorizes local production. As for loans, they are non- discriminatory with no political strings attached, Lü added, noting the US cannot stop politicizing the vaccine and other issues.

“China does not aim to and cannot take all vaccine orders from LatAm. The US should be their priority supplier, but the reality is the US is busy with its own affairs.”