appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Eduardo Baptista

China’s new ambassador to the United States has called for cooperation in fighting Covid-19 despite the growing tensions between the two countries.
Qin Gang, currently completing his second week of quarantine in Washington, tweeted on Friday that the spread of the Delta variant was causing a resurgence of infections in the US and local outbreaks in China.
“How about our two countries working together on solutions, eg more effective vaccines & helping other countries?” he tweeted.
The world has now registered more than 200 million Covid-19 cases, according to data from the World Health Organization.

Fine in quarantine for a week now, yet the rampant spread of Delta variant is concerning. Infections in the US are resurging, and there’re local outbreaks in China. How about our two countries working together on solutions, e.g. more effective vaccines & helping other countries? pic.twitter.com/bhOcawTYxz
— Qin Gang 秦刚 (@ChinaAmbinUS) August 6, 2021

Both China and the US have donated millions of vaccines around the world, but with the emergence of ever more infectious variants of Covid-19, the time it took for the mark of 200 million cases to be reached was only half of the time it took for the 100-million-mark to be reached.
Cheng Xiaohe, a professor of international relations at Renmin University, said Qin’s reputation outside China was that of a tough diplomat but since arriving to the US his rhetoric has been “conciliatory and forward-looking.”
“From his speeches and this tweet one can guess that Qin Gang’s purpose in the US is not to be excessively confrontational with the US but to look for a kind of compromise and consensus in the relationship” said Cheng.
Cheng said that this was an ideal area of cooperation because it was not too sensitive politically. Despite the competitive nature of both countries’ vaccine diplomacy, issues such as vaccine passports require cooperation.
Is China working a ‘long game’ to replace US as No 1 power?
“For the world to enter the post-Covid-19 era where we coexist with the virus, US-China cooperation is essential because without things like recognising each other’s vaccines, the free circulation of people won’t be possible,” said Cheng.
However, other Chinese observers were sceptical that Qin’s olive branch would have much effect.
Shi Yinhong, former adviser to the State Council, China’s cabinet, said Qin’s message signalled that he would try to mitigate problems in the two countries’ relationship, but was more rhetorical than practical.
China threatens ‘head-on blow’ to US after latest Hong Kong sanctions
“I don’t think that anyone can productively and lastingly mitigate the situation, especially in any one of the disputed areas,” he said, pointing to issues such as Hong Kong, Xinjiang, the South China Sea and Taiwan.
Shi added that not even Qin’s predecessor, Cui Tiankai, who was highly respected within Washington, was unable to “make any substantive difference”.


US families ramp up efforts for loved ones’ release from China ahead of Xi’s visit

US trade chief pressed Brazil to review Anglo American nickel sale to China

US approves sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia despite Israeli concerns

Hong Kong hits out at US panel over Jimmy Lai hearing and sanctions bill

US-China relations

China’s new ambassador to US calls for Covid-19 cooperation

A pop-up testing site in Times Square in New York as cases continue to surge in the US. Photo: Reuters

Coronavirus: China steps up border controls in race to contain fast-spreading Delta variant

A Covid-19 screening station in a deserted departure hall at Beijing Capital International Airport on August 5, as China imposed new travel and movement restrictions amid a Delta-driven outbreak, with hundreds of cases scattered across half the country. Photo: Bloomberg

Xi Jinping says China promises 2 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses to other countries in 2021

Chinese President Xi Jinping said China promises to provide 2 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines to other countries in 2021. Photo: Xinhua via Zuma Press/TNS

Coronavirus: China tries to contain Delta outbreak as ‘zero tolerance’ approach is tested

Medical workers enter a locked down residential compound in Changsha, Hunan province to carry out testing on Wednesday. Photo: Cnsphoto via Reuters

Image of Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan. Photo: CCTV

News

China

Diplomacy


Qin Gang, who is currently in quarantine in Washington, tweets that the two countries should work together on vaccines and helping other countries
But some observers say that given the deep-seated tensions between the countries, his intervention will make little difference



Qin Gang, who is currently in quarantine in Washington, tweets that the two countries should work together on vaccines and helping other countries.


Coronavirus vaccine