(iPoster) Identifying Key Themes in Chinese Vaccine Diplomacy Rhetoric

• In Event: Poster Session: International Security I

Abstract

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was the most significant global health crisis of the 21st century. As one of the most populous countries in the world and the epicenter of the disease, China was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, as the putative geographic origin of the virus and the epicenter of the pandemic, China faced scrutiny regarding its handling of the pandemic, challenging core traits of its national image. To help combat the spread of the disease and rebuild its national image, China engaged in health diplomacy via the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines primarily to developing countries. While health diplomacy is generally described as cooperative in nature, competition became a key theme in vaccine diplomacy rhetoric as China faced numerous controversies. Though the reasoning behind the transition to engaging in a vaccine diplomacy strategy may appear self-evident, the extant health diplomacy literature fails to address the logic of competition that came to dominate China’s rhetoric concerning vaccine and medical aid. Furthermore, understanding why China may have shifted to a competitive logic is critical in preparing for future global health crises because competition between countries, particularly the United States and China, is counterproductive to addressing emerging diseases. Therefore, this paper seeks to explain the underlying logic and motivations of China’s vaccine diplomacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to understand the development of the competitive logic of vaccine diplomacy, qualitative content analysis of transcripts of regular press conferences held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs identified key themes China evoked in discussing COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy. Seven key characteristics of Chinese vaccine diplomacy rhetoric emerged from the analysis: Altruistic, credible, innovative, leader, partner, responsible, and trustworthy. This study extends the literature on health diplomacy to encompass competition as a key factor. Competition is an underexplored dynamic in health diplomacy, and understanding the conditions under which a competitive logic is triggered is important to cultivating cooperation instead while preparing for future global health crises.

Author

• Becca Earnhardt, George Mason University