China poised to be first to distribute virus vaccine in Latin America, U.S. Official says.
While the US focuses on “taking care of the US first”, China is “likely to beat the United States in its own backyard through vaccine diplomacy” by starting clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines in South America. China has begun vaccinating citizens in Brazil and Mexico even neither country has an approved vaccine. The Mexican government has even signed an advance purchase agreement to supply 35 million single-dose immunizations.
Admiral Craig S. Faller, leader of the United States Military’s Southern Command, conceded that “We’re in a global pandemic and I’ve taken the approach here that any help is legitimate help is welcome help, so I don’t make any judgment on that. If the vaccine works, folks need to do what they need to do as a nation.”
China has already expanded its influence in the South American region through its Belt and Road Initiative, loans across Latin America, a space mission control station in Argentina, port deals around the Panama Canal, and most recently, shipments of medical supplies and vaccinations to curb the pandemic.
Source: The New York Times #Dec02
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/us/politics/coronavirus-southern-command-china-latin-america.html?referringSource=articleShare
#Covid19Vaccine #China #US #South America
While the US focuses on “taking care of the US first”, China is “likely to beat the United States in its own backyard through vaccine diplomacy” by starting clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines in South America. China has begun vaccinating citizens in Brazil and Mexico even neither country has an approved vaccine. The Mexican government has even signed an advance purchase agreement to supply 35 million single-dose immunizations.
Admiral Craig S. Faller, leader of the United States Military’s Southern Command, conceded that “We’re in a global pandemic and I’ve taken the approach here that any help is legitimate help is welcome help, so I don’t make any judgment on that. If the vaccine works, folks need to do what they need to do as a nation.”
China has already expanded its influence in the South American region through its Belt and Road Initiative, loans across Latin America, a space mission control station in Argentina, port deals around the Panama Canal, and most recently, shipments of medical supplies and vaccinations to curb the pandemic.
Source: The New York Times #Dec02
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/us/politics/coronavirus-southern-command-china-latin-america.html?referringSource=articleShare
#Covid19Vaccine #China #US #South America
NY Times
China Poised to Be First to Distribute Virus Vaccine in Latin America, U.S. Official Says
China, which has been expanding its presence in the region, is likely to beat the United States in its own backyard with vaccine diplomacy as Washington looks “at taking care of the U.S. first.”