China pushes 'vaccine diplomacy' in Southeast Asia

Beijing seeks to shore up influence in the region before Biden inauguration

20210115 Wang Yi

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, talks to the media alongside his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi in Jakarta on Wednesday. © AP

KOYA JIBIKI and TSUKASA HADANO, Nikkei staff writers

JAKARTA/BEIJING -- China is using supplies of its Sinovac Biotech's vaccine to boost its influence in Southeast Asia ahead of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration next week.

As part of the vaccine push, Foreign Minister Wang Yi is currently touring the region. He has visited Myanmar, Indonesia and Brunei, and will wrap up his trip in Manila on Saturday.

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