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Diplomacy
Opinion
SCMP Editorial
SCMP Editorial

Editorial | US retreat from foreign aid highlights China’s steady outreach

China is not so much filling a void left by the US as having its long-standing commitment to scientific collaboration finally being noticed

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Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines donated by China arrive in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on February 10, 2021. Vaccine diplomacy during the last pandemic has given mainland officials important lessons on how to combine foreign aid, joint projects and international diplomacy. Photo: Xinhua
SCMP Editorial

As the United States retreats from foreign aid and scientific collaboration with developing countries, China is going full steam ahead. Through the Belt and Road Initiative and experience gained from humanitarian provision of vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic, Beijing is expanding its science and technology outreach.

This comes as Washington is pursuing a far more insular “America first” policy that has drastically cut foreign aid and reduced collaborative scientific projects across the Global South. It is not that China is filling a void left by the US; rather, its long-standing global efforts have become more noticeable. At a think tank event in Washington, a leading expert on US-China science cooperation warned against the American retreat in light of China’s efforts.
At a forum in Chengdu widely covered by Chinese media last month, officials announced a new “double thousand” plan to deepen collaboration with belt and road countries in areas such as joint research and scientific exchanges. According to the State Council’s website, China has scientific agreements with more than 80 foreign governments. Meanwhile, the US State Department is reportedly shutting down its Office of Science and Technology Cooperation with other countries.
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The Belt and Road Initiative offers ample opportunities for member states to work with a science and tech powerhouse second only to the US. Moreover, so-called vaccine diplomacy during the last pandemic has given mainland officials important lessons on how to combine foreign aid, joint projects and international diplomacy.

Vaccine research is one of many areas where breakthroughs are being made in China. An experimental nanovaccine is being developed that could stop plaque building up in arteries, a condition that can cause blood clots, strokes and heart attacks. Another is an immunity “superbooster”, a vaccine that can potentially work against multiple diseases.
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China can help developing countries that lack medical and scientific networks to promote and increase inoculation rates, and help produce cheap but effective conventional vaccines, along with knowledge transfer. Such efforts will save lives and build goodwill.

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