Underdeveloped East Asian countries have taken on the role of critics and challengers of the great powers
Natan Magri
The lack of multiple leaders marked the debates of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). At the event, which was attended by twenty countries, topics of global relevance were discussed, including the fight against the pandemic of the new coronavirus. Russia took the lead in the dialogues and secured the leadership post.
During the three sessions on April 23, from 9 am to 5:30 pm, the Russian Federation, represented in the figure of the diplomat Matheus Santos Rodrigues da Costa, used the COVID-19 pandemic issue to launch a proposal: a Global Humanitarian Fund for the treatment of the viral crisis. One of the proposals, which caused greater discomfort in the member countries, was the use of money from the global fund for the construction of the first International Community Vaccine Factory in the world. It would aim to facilitate and streamline the production of vaccines, with one exception: in the first three months, the project would have a primary focus on manufacturing Sputnik V – which is the Russian vaccine.
Member countries opposed the idea, especially Thailand and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Their argument is that Russia is taking advantage of the pandemic to promote its vaccine and thereby gain more influence in the crisis. In the course of the press conference, the Russian Federation denied the statement and replied that the prioritization is for reasons of project organization and the agility comes from the partnership with other nations in the purchase, transport, and use of the most varied items for the manufacture of inputs.
The inaction of the great powers, the USA and China, was obvious, and social networks were not long in demanding responses. Critics and memes circulated on Twitter about the silence of both nations. It was a chance for Russia and other countries to advertise their own vaccines, such as Coronavac, Pfizer, and Moderna. Perhaps it was a strategic silence, part of diplomatic action, something only the next days of the event will say.
Smaller countries took the lead in discussions with Russia, both approving and criticizing their actions. Highlights for Myanmar, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The recent violence by the Philippine government has received criticism from the other Delegations, especially for human rights violations. The island’s response comes from the justification for combating terrorism, which has been growing due to political, cultural, economic, and religious problems. Which poses a dilemma, as a country that is still weak in creating vaccination policies needs to deal with a part of the population that declares itself to be terrorist. Morality is questionable and the crimes are obvious, but the virus makes no distinction and will use any and all bodies to spread throughout the island. The representative of the Philippines on the Committee, diplomat Raíssa Giuliani Almeida, during a press conference, affirmed that the country has never considered vaccinating terrorist groups, but its members, once in prison, would receive the vaccine. For more information, follow the coverage of the event by the New York Times (NYT) on Twitter: @imprensagomun.
