China capitalising on Covid-19 pandemic to expand soft power in the region: report

CHINA has been able to capitalise on the Covid-19 pandemic in South-east Asia to expand its soft power, thanks to its efforts in health diplomacy, according to a recent paper by Chheang Vannarith, a visiting fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

These efforts have emerged amid the pandemic as an effective way to match China's material resources with mainland South-east Asian countries, comprising Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar. Apart from providing the region with vital resources such as face masks, vaccines and medical supplies to fight the coronavirus, the efforts also enhance China's leadership role within the region.

However, the report noted that China's motives are neither completely altruistic nor unconditional. Its rising influence in the region could be manipulated for other strategic intentions such as its territorial claims in the South China Sea, as well as the promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

China first offered international assistance to Cambodia on March 23, sending a medical team and test kits. It subsequently extended other medical supplies, masks and personal protective equipment to Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos within a month.

Chinese firms also contributed significant financial support to South-east Asia, with Alibaba Foundation, Jack Ma Foundation, Huawei and other non-governmental organisations such as Blue Sky Rescue Team among the companies launching global and regional campaigns to provide medical assistance.

Such national and organisational efforts have proven instrumental in improving China's image in the region. The report noted that Cambodia and Laos have been the most receptive to China's health diplomacy campaigns, followed by Thailand and Myanmar.

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Vietnam remains reluctant to endorse China's Covid-19 assistance and vaccines. Nonetheless, leaders of these countries have expressed their appreciation, articulating their continued support, friendship and strategic interests with China.

Laos President Bounnhang Vorachith said China's support during the pandemic "vividly demonstrates the spirit of the Laos-China community with a shared future". Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha also pledged to build the Health Silk Road, which has been resurrected as part of China's ongoing efforts to promote the BRI.

According to Huang Yanzhong, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, Beijing's vaccine diplomacy aims to "increase China's global influence and iron out…geopolitical issues" and "advance its regional agenda, particularly on sensitive issues such as its claims in the South China Sea".

Last Thursday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte likened the historical International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling to "just paper (to) throw into the wastebasket". The 2016 ruling awarded the Philippines legal victory against China in the South China Sea territorial disputes.

Mr Duterte's comments seemed to be an effort to pacify Beijing, which supplies most of Manila's Covid-19 vaccine needs. He added that China "remains a benefactor" to whom his country owes "a big debt of gratitude, among others for the vaccines".