The real cost of China’s vaccine diplomacy and coronavirus holiday gifts that you need to avoid
As Covid-19 cases have risen around the world, so has the torrent of fake news, junk science and conspiracy theories surrounding the virus — and we’ve been watching out for the worst offenders.
Here are the narratives that have grabbed our attention this week and deserve yours.
China’s vaccine diplomacy is making its first big push in a NATO country. The first shipment of the Sinovac immunization will arrive in Turkey shortly, as part of a 20 million-dose deal signed last month. But there’s a geopolitical twist. The Beijing-based Global Times has heralded a “giant step forward” in relations, stating that Turkey has pledged to intensify efforts against activism in its large Uyghur diaspora. Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that the authorities will not allow anyone in Turkey to “undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Background: Though Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan usually champions Muslim causes, he is tight-lipped over China. His country extradites Uyghurs and lets Chinese spies operate with apparent impunity. Closer cooperation means the plight of exiles will further deteriorate.