The vaccine as a bayonet

It’s not a war as we normally think of it, but it’s a war all the same. The arsenal is made up of syringes and fluids concocted in the laboratory. Coats, latex gloves and N-95 masks serve as camouflage outfits. Platoons, battalions, regiments and brigades are populated by immunologists, infectious disease specialists and pharmacists.

What changes us from a traditional war is that the goal is to … save lives. And the Chinese, in this conflict, have taken a step ahead. The first to face the new coronavirus, they were the first to develop vaccines.

Today, they share them around the world, to the chagrin of Americans … who do not say so, of course, since these are lives, once again, that we are trying to save. Beijing, however, with this vaccine diplomacy, is strengthening and expanding its influence.

The United States is celebrating the success of its vaccination these days with the announcement of ever more ambitious goals: all American adults, eligible for a vaccine by May 1; the resumption of parties (on a small scale) on July 4, Independence Day.

SHAKING THE “AMERICA FIRST”

Joe Biden, in the presidency, perpetuated the reluctance and the populism of Donald Trump’s vaccination policy: the Americans and nothing but the Americans. Meanwhile, 31 countries let themselves be charmed by the Chinese and agreed to one version of their four vaccines.

Same success for the Russians who developed the reflexes of this type of diplomacy throughout the Cold War: they increased their capital of prestige and goodwill by distributing their Sputnik V vaccine in more than 50 countries, including several traditional allies. from the United States, from Egypt to Mexico.

Americans seem to be slowly waking up. A virtual meeting on Friday of the partners of the “Quad” – the United States, Japan, India and Australia – resulted in a first response to the Chinese vaccination campaign. Washington and Tokyo will finance the production in India of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine which will subsequently be distributed by Australia throughout South East Asia.

VACCINATION AS A DIPLOMATIC MANEUVER

The Chinese like to say that this vaccine diplomacy is not so much about acquired influence, but a willingness “to share resources for collective global well-being.” Who can be against virtue?

Except that Beijing is far from being so disinterested. On Thursday, the International Olympic Committee accepted its offer to vaccinate all athletes at the Tokyo Games next summer, and then all those who will compete in the February 2022 Winter Games in the Chinese capital. All this moreover paid by the IOC.

China thus kills two birds with one stone: it is efficient and generous, while pulling the rug out from under those who call for a boycott of the Beijing Games for its horrible record in terms of respect for human rights. , especially those of the Uyghurs. Like the tree that hides the forest, the vaccine hides the sick that we do not want to show.

Total number of doses administered