This book unpacks the political economy of China’s COVID-19 vaccine supplies to the Global South. Examining the political and economic forces at play, the book demonstrates how China’s vaccine provisions have been determined by a complex set of commercial interests, domestic politics and geopolitical relationships. The book sheds light on how domestic interests shape China’s role in global governance and its international economic engagement. Its analysis contributes to broader academic debates on the politics and economics of crises, as well as offering new insights on how pre-existing political and market forces shape aid and trade in the context of crisis.
Author(s): Pippa Morgan
Publisher: Bristol University Press
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 157
City: Bristol
Front Cover
China's Covid-19 Vaccine Supplies to the Global South: Between Politics and Business
Copyright information
Table of contents
List of Figures and Tables
Notes on the Author
Acknowledgments
One Introduction
COVID-19 and the Global South
Health impacts
Economic impacts
Why understanding Chinese vaccine supplies to the Global South matters
China, the Global South and crises
China and the Global South
Political economy in times of crisis
Argument, data sources and roadmap
Framework and argument
Explaining China’s vaccine donations
Explaining China’s sales of vaccines
Data sources
Roadmap
Two Contextualizing China’s Position in Global Health
Health governance in China
Performance legitimacy and infectious disease management
China in global health governance
China’s traditional health aid
China in global health governance institutions
China in world pharmaceutical markets
China’s commercial pharmaceutical industry opens up
Innovation driven development
China in global vaccine markets
Conclusion
Three ‘Vaccine Diplomacy’
Narratives on Chinese vaccine supplies
Explaining the distribution of Chinese vaccine donations
‘Moving the anti-pandemic barrier forward’
Maintaining regional stability and supporting established partners
Alternative arguments
Following established aid practices
Illustrative case studies
Myanmar
Pakistan
Conclusion
Four Market Forces and Commercial Chinese Vaccine Sales
The world COVID-19 vaccine marketplace
Vaccinating the Global South
Not a ‘cheap’ alternative, but an accessible one
‘Seizing the opportunity’ of the pandemic
China’s key players
Sinopharm
Sinovac
CanSino
State–corporate cooperation in vaccine development
Sinopharm: The state takes the lead
Sinovac: Leveraging an eclectic mix of private and public support
CanSino: Private–military partnership
The distribution of China’s commercial exports of vaccines
Africa left behind
Conclusion
Five Conclusion: Between Politics and Business
Key arguments and implications
Looking forward: the future of Chinese vaccines in the Global South
Challenges
Opportunities
A Chinese mRNA vaccine?
Local manufacturing collaborations
Closing thoughts
Notes
References
Index
Back Cover
