Has US-Vietnam Coronavirus Pandemic Cooperation hit a Stumbling Block?

Last updated on November 17th, 2021 at 04:15 am

US -During the coronavirus outbreak, numerous political analysts speculated that the crisis would reconstruct the worldwide order. However, throughout history, we have observed that various pandemics and plagues have added to the rise and fall of great powers. Currently, we are witnessing that coronavirus is already having tremendous geopolitical consequences.

In Southeast Asia, countries like Vietnam are caught in between vaccine nationalism since both the US and China develop their immunizations and promise a great many dosages, while on the other hand, they are missing the mark on delivery.

As per Geopolitical Monitor, a similar situation is unfurling at the UN COP26, where worldwide leaders, including the US, have displayed an excessive amount of confidence about fighting climate change; however, they have failed to draw a plan about lessening global warming.

In 2020, Vietnam was applauded for its efficient response to the pandemic, yet in 2021 the Communist Party is seen battling the postponements in securing vaccine pledges.

Some experts on Vietnam policy believe that the pandemic indicates a chance to draw more prominent strategic cooperation between world leaders.  

COVAX was launched on 24 April 2020 to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. It is a global initiative, with more than 66% of the world’s most diverse coronavirus vaccines portfolio.

Moreover, the countries that produce vaccines can help set up mutual supply agreements with the nations that require them.

For the time being, the Vietnamese government carefully gauges the political significance of the number of jabs received rather than what’s been vowed. 

Hence the continuous struggle of vaccine diplomacy between Beijing and Washington lays extensively on the front line responses from Vietnamese people.

The shortage of vaccines has compelled Vietnam to curb its initiative, even as the Delta variant has tainted more than 984,000 people and killed 22,688 since the outbreak. 

The earlier declarations from the top heads of the Quad, the US, Japan, India, and Australia, who vowed more than 1 billion vaccine doses to the Indo-Pacific region by 2022, is encouraging. Yet, many generally view this vow as symbolic of countering the Chinese vaccine diplomacy.

Subsequently, the Biden Government is finding ways to persuade Hanoi and its residents that the US is a more popular vaccine partner than Beijing.

In the meantime, Vietnam’s health authorities are trying to accelerate its immunization program with an end goal to relax the Covid lockdown limitations, particularly in significant urban areas, to empower the tourism sector to reopen and to circumvent labor shortage and various supply chains.