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China’s vaccine nationalism softens as country signals it may approve foreign-made shots

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4 months ago

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Last month, Beijing issued a new policy that makes it easier for foreigners to apply for a visa in China if they have received a Chinese vaccine, which raises concerns among experts, who warn that there is a risk of setting a dangerous precedent that could leave the separate world in vaccine silos.

There was also a practical problem: in many countries, including the United States, it is impossible to get a Chinese vaccine because they have not been approved for use by regulators.

With about half of adults in the United States receiving at least one Covid-19 shot, many travelers eligible to enter China, whether Chinese or foreign nationals who obtain a visa, were unsure whether the vaccine would be considered they received. enough to travel to China.

The Chinese embassy in Washington finally provided some clarity in a recent statement, which explained what travelers in China who have received one of the U.S.-approved vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson) should get. & Johnson) to be approved. enter the country.

With China largely back to business and infection rates, it is likely that many will try this process soon, especially as the number of vaccinated continues to rise in the US.

Last month, China launched its own version of a vaccine passport, the International travel health certificate (ITHC), to allow immunized people to travel more freely. The country is also moving toward approving more vaccines, including foreign-made ones, that would make it easier for Chinese living abroad and foreigners hoping to travel to China to enroll in the ITC.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Chinese officials have been examining data from clinical trials for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which could be approved for home use before July.
The Global Times, a state-owned newspaper, quoted the head of the Chinese Vaccine Industry Association said China’s approval “would show its care” for expats who “wanted some foreign-made vaccines to facilitate recognition when they return home.” .

And approving the BioNTech vaccine, which has an impressive 97% effectiveness, could also help China improve immunity levels among its own population, amid some concern about the relatively low effectiveness of domestic vaccines and shortage of supply.

Although, with the launch of Pfizer-BioNTech among those attacked by China’s propaganda bodies, approving it may be more than a simple scientific closure, and it remains to be seen how much criticism it has had in terms of undermining the Chinese public confidence in foreign vaccines.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a video link speech during the Boao Forum for Asia in southern China’s Hainan Province on April 20th.

China’s business: Xi targets foreign commanders

Chinese President Xi Jinping this week he called for global cooperation in the face of a growing front against China led by the United States, and warned that an “open world economy” is essential to recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

“Attempts to erect walls or separate are going against the law of economics and market principles,” Xi said Tuesday via video at the Boao Forum for Asia in China. “They would harm the interests of others without benefiting themselves.”

“We must not let the rules set by one or a few countries impose themselves on others, nor allow unilateralism pursued by certain countries to set the pace for the whole world,” Xi added.

Although Xi did not name any countries during his speech – top Chinese leaders usually do not even name shame – his claims seemed like a veiled critique of the United States, which has intensified pressure on China in recent months.

Last month, the U.S. and its allies condemned Beijing and imposed coordinated sanctions on Chinese officials for the alleged repression of Uighur Muslims and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang province. Most of the harsh sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on some of China’s largest technology companies remain in place and trade tensions continue under the Biden administration.

“Annoying other people or getting involved in the internal affairs of others would not get any support,” Xi said at the forum, which was attended by thousands of executives and political leaders.

Some of America’s largest entrepreneurs and investors participated in the event as they tried to navigate the tumultuous relationship between the world’s two major economies. Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman and Ray Dalio, the billionaire founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, took part in a panel Monday night, according to organizers. Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla CEO Elon Musk are also expected to attend.

– Laura He, CNN Business

Cited and noted

“At the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden, President Xi Jinping will attend the climate summit in Beijing on April 22 via video and deliver a speech.”

– After the visit of the American climate envoy John Kerry to Shanghai it resulted in a boring but promising joint statementXi’s participation in the leadership summit proposed by Biden later this month, announced by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, could be a big step forward, both in terms of warming up. the icy bilateral relationship to address the developing climate disaster.
Fans cheer during the Guangzhou derby, the opening game of the new Chinese Super League season, on April 20 in Guangzhou, China.

The other Super League

With all the attention in the football world about the slow and ugly collapse of the European Super League (ESL), the Chinese The Superliga (CSL) started its last season a little more dignified on Tuesday, with a 2-2 to draw in the Guangzhou derby.
Launched in 2004, it was not until early 2010 that the CSL appeared about to become a major force in world football, with millions of dollars scattering and key signings of foreign players, in response to call of Xi himself improve China’s position in world football, with an eye on the future glory of the World Cup.
This glory never came: China only made an appearance in international competition, in 2002, and fell into the qualifying phase for the last World Cup, finishing next to the last in his group.
Nor has the domestic game dazzled exactly, despite the large amounts of money being poured into it and the import foreign talent on and off the field. And, in turn, once free-spending owners have obtained lower-than-stellar returns on their investments.
Chen Junle (left) of Guangzhou City fights for the ball with Huang Bowen of Guangzhou FC during the opening match of the new season of the Chinese Super League.
Although it is due to a bit of a slowdown established restrictions by the government to curb marketing (fans, in particular, complained about the way owners changed club names at will), were also affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which advocates of the new ESL they had also given as a reason to renew the Europeans. football.

Part of this plan would be a decrease in the level of importance that would be given to stadium attendees and home fan bases, and a greater focus on broadcasting rights and international income, a model similar to the which followed the CSL, where the hope was that the titular signings of stars like Oscar and Carlos Tevez would bring viewers around the world.

But, separating the game from its base and concentrating on it solely as a money-making operation (as owners who drive ESL are accused) carries great risks. Earlier this year, Jiangsu FC, the reigning Chinese champions, he was forced to cease operations due to lack of funds, a move that caused a wave of panic for European football, as the club shares an owner, retail giant Suning, with future ESL founding member Inter Milan.

Photo of the day

The dark side of the shared economy: A bicycle cemetery in Shenyang, northeast of Liaoning Province. A similar pile of abandoned motorcycles has sprung up all over China after the rapid expansion and then implosion of many bicycle sharing applications.

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