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Vaccine diplomacy: nation branding and China’s COVID-19 soft power play

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  • Seow Ting Lee

    (University of Colorado at Boulder)

Abstract

As a global crisis, COVID-19 has altered how nation-states project influence. Public health has risen to the top of every agenda as individuals, societies, and nation-states focus on a common goal. With the advent of COVID-19 vaccines, home-grown national vaccines when distributed all over the world can play an integral role in nation branding as a technique for projecting soft power. This paper applies the theoretical lenses of nation branding and soft power to examine China’s bilateral vaccine diplomacy efforts, specifically the motivations and outcomes. The findings suggest that Chinese vaccines are used not only for image repair and for expanding Beijing’s great power ambitions, but also to reinforce and leverage existing soft power programs, and to capitalize on new economic and geopolitical opportunities. Vaccine diplomacy is a natural extension of Chinese soft power including prior engagement in health diplomacy. Sentiment analyses of social media and international media coverage suggest that where vaccines go, influence may follow. Although international sentiments are not all positive—with concerns over Chinese vaccines’ efficacy, safety, and data availability, Beijing reaped substantial soft power dividends through its ability to project influence in scientific prowess and civic virtue by providing the vaccines as International Public Goods through aid and gifts to countries left behind by the vaccine inequity.

Suggested Citation

  • Seow Ting Lee, 2023. "Vaccine diplomacy: nation branding and China’s COVID-19 soft power play," Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(1), pages 64-78, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:pbapdi:v:19:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1057_s41254-021-00224-4
    DOI: 10.1057/s41254-021-00224-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nye, Joseph S., 2008. "Public Diplomacy and Soft Power," Scholarly Articles 11738397, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
    2. Joseph S. Nye Jr., 2008. "Public Diplomacy and Soft Power," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 616(1), pages 94-109, March.
    3. Pierre-Bruno Ruffini, 2017. "Science and Diplomacy – A New Dimension of International Relations," Post-Print hal-02970666, HAL.
    4. Hak Yin Li & Seanon Wong, 2018. "The evolution of Chinese public diplomacy and the rise of think tanks," Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 14(1), pages 36-46, February.
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    Cited by:

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