China’s ‘Vaccine Diplomacy’ Drives Up Foreign Aid by 40%

The export of donated goods accounts for about 25% of China’s total “official development assistance” to other countries

(Bloomberg) — Chinese donations of physical aid jumped to almost $1.3 billion last year as the government, companies and individuals gave vaccines, food and other goods to foreign nations.

The value of donated goods was almost 40% higher than in 2020, according to a new database created by academics at the University of Göttingen and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany, and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Pharmaceutical and medical exports were the top donation categories, reflecting the impact of the pandemic.