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Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 35 martyrs, 75 injured in occupation targeting of civilians seeking food aid in Rafah, Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
Da Silva: What is happening in Gaza is not a war, it is a genocide
Da Silva: Even the Jewish people do not want this war; it is revenge by a government against the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state
Brazilian President Lula da Silva: What we are seeing is not a war between two armies. [What we have is a] completely professional army that is killing women and children in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas: We affirm our readiness to immediately begin a round of indirect negotiations to reach an agreement on the points of contention
Hamas: We welcome the continued Qatari and Egyptian efforts to end the war waged by the Zionist occupation against our people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces blew up Noura Al-Kaabi Hospital, designated for kidney dialysis patients, in the northern Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli drone targets a car on the Ayta al-Shaab-Debel road in southern Lebanon
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Yahya Saree: The remaining airlines that have not yet complied with the ban are urged to take this into serious consideration to ensure the safety of their aircraft and passengers
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Yahya Saree: The YAF, after successfully imposing a partial ban on air traffic at Lydd Airport, are now working to impose a full ban on air traffic at the aforementioned airport in the coming period

International Politics & COVID-19: The Global Uncertainties

  • Shafei Moiz Hali Shafei Moiz Hali
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 3 Sep 2021 15:38
4 Min Read

The fast transmission rate of COVID-19 and its different variants emerging around the planet truly created a global event of extraordinary concern and in extraordinary circumstances demand extraordinary measures and leadership. 

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  • International Politics & COVID-19: The Global Uncertainties

On 31 December 2019, the WHO was informed of cases of pneumonia of an unknown cause in Wuhan, China. 603 days later we are still uncertain for how long the threat of COVID-19 is going to continue. During the course of these 603 days, the world has witnessed tragedy, some 4.4 million people have died worldwide, as a result of this pandemic. The world has also witnessed a human thirst for knowledge coupled with mankind’s tenacity and resilience to combat this novel Coronavirus. Resulting; in the development of vaccines in less than a year. This by no means is a small feat.

After 600 days of facemasks, hand sanitizers, lockdowns, contact tracing, testing kits, travel restrictions, closed borders, and vaccine passports. Anybody anticipating a post-pandemic resurgence and rise in international cooperation might want to think twice and keep their fingers crossed. During the first 300 days of this pandemic, the world witnessed countries playing the blame game, an acute shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ventilators, and various countries and organizations hoarding PPE and other equipment. The year 2020 was tainted by politics of aid and mask diplomacy. While the mask diplomacy was playing out the race to develop potent vaccines to combat COVID-19 began which insinuated debates regarding which country’s vaccine is better and after the successful development of vaccines the next 300 days have witnessed another facet of ‘vaccine nationalism’ being added to the existing geopolitical competition within international relations.

The important thing of note here is that, during this dire time of the COVID-19 pandemic, China emerged as the major benevolent country supplying medical aid to the developing world. China’s Sinopharm and Sinovac along with Russia’s Sputnik V are the mainstay for many developing countries around Asia, Latin America, and Africa. When no European state answered Italy’s urgent appeal for medical equipment and protective gear, China publicly committed to sending 1,000 ventilators, two million masks, 100,000 respirators, 20,000 protective suits, and 50,000 test kits. China has also dispatched medical teams and 250,000 masks to Iran and sent supplies to Serbia, whose president dismissed European solidarity as “a fairy tale” and proclaimed that “the only country that can help us is China.” Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma has promised to send large quantities of testing kits and masks to the United States, as well as 20,000 test kits and 100,000 masks to each of Africa’s 54 countries.

The fast transmission rate of COVID-19 and its different variants emerging around the planet truly created a global event of extraordinary concern and in extraordinary circumstances demand extraordinary measures and leadership. 

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The US has botched its image during the COVID-19 pandemic. The administration in Washington couldn’t handle the pandemic at home nor did it take timely measures to aid others in need. With China stepping into the void created by the US. The US is left with merely resorting to propaganda based upon a war of narratives around ‘who responded better’.

The reason for China’s success in stepping up as a major country aiding those in need has been China’s global integration policies and structures created through its Belt and Road Initiative. Owing to the mechanisms and structures of connectivity already in play because of the BRI, China was able to dispense financial as well as medical aid to its partners, which not only helped cement China’s image as a leading country but also strengthened existing connectivity structures of the BRI and truly creating a win-win scenario for the BRI partner countries. One shouldn’t get confused that, only a handful of countries belong to this exclusive group of BRI partners. As of January 2021, there are 140 partner countries within the BRI.

A future free from the COVID-19 pandemic demands a coordinated global response; so far the existing global politics and the US’s mishandling of its responses to combat the pandemic at home and abroad are proving to be a major hurdle. If this pandemic has taught the world anything, it is that unless the whole world can be protected from the virus, no one can be safe. This is why all the major countries need to act together.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Al Mayadeen’s editorial stance.
  • USA
  • COVID-19
  • China
  • Coronavirus
  • vaccine
Shafei Moiz Hali

Shafei Moiz Hali

Associate Professor at National Defence University

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