Report: Beijing's Malaysia vaccine promise tied to request to free detained nationals

 

A closer look at the race to obtain a Covid-19 vaccine has revealed links to possible disputes involving governments across South East Asia, including Malaysia and China as the targeted producer.

Nikkei Asia - in a report covering developments across several Southeast Asian countries - highlighted discreet negotiations said to involve Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (above) and Wisma Putra.

A purported request was said to have been made during Wang Yi's visit to Malaysia last month when he had reportedly promised Putrajaya priority access to Chinese Covid-19 vaccines.

Nikkei quoted an unidentified Malaysian official who said Wang Yi had requested for the release of 60 Chinese nationals and six Chinese-registered fishing vessels detained several days before his arrival in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia said they would consider the request, according to the official.

Responding to the detention, China's Foreign Ministry officials had at the time urged Malaysian authorities to carry out a fair investigation and protect the rights of its citizens.

Wang Yi was in Malaysia on Oct 12 and 13 as part of his Southeast Asia five nations tour.

A statement from Wisma Putra at the time said Wang Yi's meeting with Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein would discuss the status of China’s Covid-19 vaccine, enhancing economic cooperation, post-pandemic collaborations and strengthening existing ties and cooperative efforts between the two countries.

Malaysiakini has contacted Wisma Putra and the Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur for comments.

Meanwhile, Nikkei's report noted China's advantages in the production of Covid-19 vaccines with it currently being in a leading position with four out of its 10 vaccine candidates in Phase 3 clinical trials

Among others, it highlighted Chinese company Sinovac's Phase 3 trials in at least 15 countries including neighbouring Indonesia which has over 400,000 positive Covid-19 cases and 14,146 deaths.

Given China's leading role, concerns were raised over compensations that countries in Southeast Asia are willing to make in order to better their chances at obtaining the vaccines.

Evan Laksmana, senior international relations researcher at the Jakarta-based Center for Strategic and International Studies reportedly said that what is at stake is not so much a short-term quid pro quo with Beijing but a long-term dependency.

"I think Covid has made that point (of dependence on China) even clearer - that it's not just (in) economics and trade, but also the medical supply chain.

"India, Japan and Australia have started to think more seriously about how to decouple from China. But I don't think that's a realistic option for most in Southeast Asia," he was quoted as saying by Nikkei.

Last month, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that Covid-19 frontline workers would be given the priority once a viable vaccine was available.

Khairy had also proposed that up to RM3 billion in allocations be set aside under Budget 2021 - to be tabled on Friday - as funds to purchase the vaccine.  - Mkini