Beyond Soft Power and Image Building: China’s Vaccine Diplomacy in South Asia and Pakistan

Abstract

The Pandemic transformed and reshaped the structure of the geo-political landscape of the planet. Moves made by the Global North and Rising Powers were discussed under various politically driven motives. This was the case with China too, arguably China’s effort in COVID relief has been seen through the prism of Public Diplomacy in an effort to enhance its soft power and brand its global image. Though this could have been the motive, the paper however argues that China’s moves were not driven by these motives only, though it did appear as an additional supplement for China. The COVID relief and supplies of COVID-19 vaccine by China served the greater purpose of humanitarian and medical aid in particular for developing nations. Asia at large and South Asia in particular received a massive dose of vaccine and within South Asia, it was beyond image building for China to provide maximum aid to Pakistan; a nation that ranks China among the top most favored states and nations.