Exciting news! China has got a COVID-19 vaccine that's proved to be effective, safe, and almost ready to go. Given the world has over 22 million confirmed cases, and almost 800,000 deaths so far, the development brings hope to people around the world.

But it also raises new questions and concerns. Who will get the vaccine first, how much will it cost, and what about people who don't want to get vaccinated? In a way, the hard work is just beginning. Global cooperation will be essential.

Regardless, "vaccine nationalism" is a rising concern, and so are worries that countries are sacrificing safety for speed, and that countries will use the vaccine as geopolitical leverage. At least, these are the issues highlighted in some media reports on China's vaccine development.

For example, The Wall Street Journal published the article, "China Seeks to Use Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for Diplomacy." The piece says, "Global health experts expect China, Russia and other countries to attempt to turn any successful vaccine into a tool of diplomacy amid intense global demand."

Well, we've seen this before, like when China was accused of using face mask diplomacy when it supplied countries with personal protective equipment (PPE). So it should come as no surprise that China will be accused of using the vaccine to seek geopolitical leverage too.

The article adds, "With China closing in on a coronavirus vaccine, Beijing's top officials and some of its drugmakers have begun promising early access to countries of strategic interest as it seeks to shore up its global standing after a pandemic that has strained geopolitical ties." But when the article explains the reasons behind the cooperation, the details paint a very different picture than what the headline suggests.

Brazil, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russia and the Philippines are listed as countries Beijing has promised giving priority to when doses are ready. As the article explains, however, Pakistan, Brazil, and Indonesia have all agreed to let China conduct clinical trials in their countries in exchange for receiving doses of the vaccine when it's ready.

The Philippines made a plea to China to get priority access to its vaccines when ready, not the other way around. And Russia may produce a vaccine developed by China, according to the article, "if the Russian Health Ministry approves." So the onus is on Russia. Some might call this a tool of diplomacy, but others call it doing responsible business.

The Nikkei Asian Review published the piece, "China's Lead in Coronavirus Vaccines Raises Concern as well as Hope: Government-led Medical Sparks Worries over Safety and Diplomatic Clout."

It also mentions the Philippines when it says, "Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has urged China to give his country priority in the supply of the vaccine, despite its territorial dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea. It is possible that China will use the vaccine as a tool to increase its influence."

Well, it is also possible China won't. A lot of things are possible. So if you're going to make a speculative statement, please back it up with something more concrete.

There's also a Bloomberg article that reads, "Russia's New Sputnik Launch Raises Risks in Dash for Vaccine." The article raises doubts about Russia's new vaccine but throws China into the mix too. It says, "Trump is already in some ways behind in a race where the U.S.'s two major geopolitical rivals have used their authoritarian might to sprint ahead. FDA officials have emphasized that they will clear a COVID vaccine only after careful analysis, basing decisions on "good science and data."

So Russia and China are winning the race because they are essentially "cheating", or as the article says "using their authoritarian might." Hard work, scientific innovation, and years of research just couldn't possibly be the reason.

The article also adds that the FDA will only clear a vaccine based on "good science and data" – is that to say China and Russia are basing their decisions on bad science and wild guesses?

New vaccines raise new concerns, of course. In shrouding China's scientific achievements in skepticism from the get-go, the media risks undermining a development that could make a real difference and save lives.

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