Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

Day: December 16, 2021

In a Potentially Troubling Development for Africa, Sinovac Did Not Perform Well in Early Test Against Omicron Variant

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) found that people inoculated with two doses of Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine did not produce sufficient detectable levels of antibodies needed to fend off the new highly-infectious Omicron variant.

Sinovac’s Limited Distribution in Africa May End Up Being a Blessing if Omicron Spreads

Distribution of Sinovac's CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine remains relatively limited in Africa, according to data from Bridge Consulting's weekly vaccine tracker report. So, if the vaccine is not able to effectively counteract the Omicron variant, the overall impact will be limited.

Even Though More Countries Have Received Chinese Vaccines, Distribution Remains Highly Unequal

There does not appear to be any pattern to the inconsistent distribution of Chinese vaccines in Africa over the past 12 months. For much of the year, North African countries accounted for the bulk of deliveries, but that started to change as deliveries increased to southern African ...

Iranian Security Service Buys Advanced Video Surveillance Technology From China

One of China's largest video surveillance companies, Tiandy, is reportedly selling large quantities of sophisticated AI-enabled cameras with facial recognition technology to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and other Iranian security services, according to a report published earlier this month by surveillance research group IPVM.

China’s Communist Youth League Asks “Who’s Better For Africa? China or the U.S.?” (Guess Who They Picked?)

The Central Committee of China's influential Communist Youth League (CYL) published a rather comical (unintentionally of course) comparison between U.S. and Chinese engagement in Africa that made the case as to why China, not surprisingly, is the more optimal partner for the continent.

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

On Pelosi’s Visit, China’s Messaging Machine is Targeting the Global South

China mobilized its entire global messaging machine to protest U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recently concluded visit to Taiwan. Angry reactions have shown up in newspapers across the Global South, from Brazil to Congo to Oman and beyond. 

While the Global South media was going to report on the crisis anyway, the wave of pro-China coverage shows the range of tools Beijing has developed to get its message out there: