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China Ramps Up “Mask Diplomacy” in Africa 

by Eric Olander
TRANSLATION: "Chinese Ambassador to Mauritania Zhang Jianguo attended a ceremony to deliver medical aid from China to Mauritania, which was provided by the Chinese company Alibaba."

The Chinese government appears to be taking full advantage of the country’s newfound ability to produce extraordinary amounts of masks and other COVID-19 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and using that gear to advance its diplomatic agenda in Africa and other regions around the world.

By the end of last month, according to data from the National Development and Reform Commission, China was able to produce more than 110 million masks per day. Now, with nearly ten thousand manufacturers in the market, that number has likely gone up even more.

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