(by Massimiliano D'Elia) Who would have thought, vaccines used as a strategic weapon globally. China distributes them for free in Africa and Latin American countries while the United States decides how, in what quantities to produce them and to whom to distribute them. The only one left behind without a "vision" is Europe, stranded within its own internal contradictions. It has failed to conclude satisfactory contracts with the Big Pharma multinationals, despite the work carried out by hundreds of super experienced bureaucrats comfortably seated in the institutional offices of Brussels. Yesterday the Italian premier Mario Draghi drew attention to the issue of vaccines directly with the president of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The result is there for all to see, we do not have enough doses able to satisfy the pressing need for a mass vaccination, identified as the only weapon to defeat the pandemic and rekindle the engines of the economy which is recording negative values around 10 percentage points across the eurozone. It is no coincidence that the only economy in constant growth, even at the time of Covid, is the Chinese one, which has been gradually increasing for months, reaching + 4,8% today. A situation that is worrying and not a little to our overseas allies, who see over the months the Chinese dragon increasingly enterprising and eager to conquer vast portions of direct and indirect influence in the various continents on a planetary level.
- United States they are trying to run for cover. They are therefore working with Japan, India e Australia to develop a plan distribution of Covid-19 vaccines in Asian countries as part of a broader strategy to counter China's influence. The White House discussed the issue with representatives of the so-called Quad countries (USA, Japan, India and Australia). The plan is to use vaccine distribution as a weapon to counter the Chinese flu in the Asian area. President Joe Biden stressed that he will work closely with allies due to their concerns over China's military and economic aggression.
"The Biden administration is making the Quad the central dynamic of its Asian policy "a person familiar with the plan told the FT. Kurt Campbell, the White House Indo-Pacific policy coordinator who leads the American initiative, held several meetings with the Quad group ambassadors. The Quad was born in 2004 following the tsunami emergency that devastated Indonesia and parts of Southeast Asia. An official familiar with the ongoing discussions said the strategy, under development, is not limited to just the distribution of vaccines but will be structured into something more lasting: "The United States is in the final stages of preparation for what it hopes to be a large and bold initiative in the Indo-Pacific ".
During the talks it emerged the need to fight the pandemic but also to respond to climate change, as well as to regional security issues.
The Quad is also discussing how to increase maritime cooperation and do more in areas such as cybersecurity. China criticized the group, describing it as one Asian "born" which would increase tensions in the region. Quad nations have publicly said their plans focus only on positive initiatives for the entire Asian area, not just initiatives tending to counterbalance Chinese influence, although officials privately said the momentum for further action is based on the escalation of Chinese aggression.
To reactivate the strategic cooperation of the Quad was Donald Trump, the former president of the United States. Biden also wants to significantly strengthen the initiative, taking advantage of today's predisposition towards the United States on the part of the allies. However, while Biden said China is at the top of US foreign policy concerns, the other countries in the Quad have all had contacts or relations with Beijing. Japan on the disputed Senkaku / Diaoyu islands, India for a recorded confrontation at the border, Australia due to the economic sanctions activated following the request to investigate the origins of the coronavirus in the Wuhan territory.