Advertisement
My TakeA world increasingly divided over China
- The China trade is primary to the exports of countries such as Ukraine and Australia, yet the two have diametrically opposed responses to China in general and to the Xinjiang row in particular
3-MIN READ3-MIN
9
The world may not yet be divided into two opposing blocs like it was during the Cold War, but the case of Ukraine, Australia and Canada over the Uygurs in Xinjiang may offer a foretaste of a divided world to come.
Last month, Ukraine began as one of more than 40 countries, led by Canada and including Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and the United States, to urge the United Nations Human Rights Council to ask China to grant immediate access to the semi-autonomous region to probe allegations of mistreatment of the Uygurs and other Muslim minority groups.
Ukraine then did an abrupt U-turn and withdrew its signature of support. Some news reports at the time claimed Chinese vaccine diplomacy was responsible. But, according to a well-informed senior diplomat I interviewed, the country had enough vaccine supply. Mostly likely, said the diplomat who preferred to remain anonymous, trade and politics had far more to do with the reversal.
Advertisement
“Statistics show the Ukrainian government is not experiencing a vaccine shortage,” the diplomat said. “Indeed, this year Ukraine received about 5 million doses of different vaccines, but only about half was used.”
Based on surveys and social media reports, vaccine hesitancy is partly to blame.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x