Knowledge Bank

Following the appearance of a novel coronavirus in 2019, extensive epidemiological work began across the world. As the country of origin of the virus, China was the initial leader in COVID-19 research. Due to the tight linkage between the Chinese government and scientific research bodies, many have viewed Chinese results with some skepticism. This link was further questioned as Beijing began a massive vaccine outreach campaign, donating over 1 billion doses of domestically created vaccines to over 100 countries. This paper explores the role of COVID-19 response in Chinese foreign policy by reviewing data on China's economic, political, and scientific cooperation and examining China's vaccine distribution network. Results suggest that lower-income countries participate very little in COVID-19 research and lack the capacity to develop and distribute a COVID vaccine on their own. These countries are also less likely to have access to non-Chinese vaccines due to their high cost and patent restrictions. Chinese officials have a high level of discretion over the distribution of their vaccine supply, which enables a vaccination network that is flexible and responsive to changing priorities. Reviews of the distribution network show patterns that are consistent with political interests (such as the exportation of natural resources, non-recognition of Taiwan, and participation in the Belt and Road Initiative) more than scientific or humanitarian aims. This creates political and epidemiological challenges for the global community that should be taken into consideration when developing an optimal vaccination strategy.