Medical diplomacy
Medical diplomacy[1] or public health diplomacy[2] is a form of diplomacy. It is the provision of medical assistance or aid for the purpose of furthering national goals. It is often considered to be a form of soft power but it has various harder aspects.[3]
History
Medical diplomacy related to the COVID-19 epidemic was often termed “mask diplomacy” due to surgical masks being the primary good transferred.[4]
By country
Cuba
Medical diplomacy is a cornerstone of Cuban foreign policy.[5] Cuba has engaged in medical diplomacy since the 1960s.[6][3]
China
The Chinese hospital ship Daishan Dao has engaged in a number of medical diplomacy missions. China’s support of the WHO has also been framed as medical diplomacy.[1]
Taiwan
Taiwan has engaged in medical diplomacy since 1961. Under the New Southbound Policy Taiwan is focusing on providing high-level professional skill transfers instead of direct medical care or basic public health programs.[7] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan has ramped up its efforts and donated millions of masks to its diplomatic allies as well as close friends across the world. It also launched a hospital ship through the Pacific, providing ventilators and masks to countries unable to obtain medical help from other sources, like Palau.
See also
References
- Volodzko, David. "China's Medical Diplomacy". thediplomat.com. The Diplomat. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- Tseng, Esther. "The Power of Friendship, Taiwan's Public Health Diplomacy". www.taiwan-panorama.com. Taiwan Panorama. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- Jack, Andrew. "Cuba's medical diplomacy". www.ft.com. Financial Times. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- Horton, Chris; Li, Lauly; Ting-Fang, Cheng. "Taiwan counters China's isolation campaign with mask diplomacy". asia.nikkei.com. Nikkei. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- Wiebel, Haley. "Cuban Medical Diplomacy: A Developmental Paradox". www.coha.org. Council on Hemispheric Affairs. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- Groll, Elias. "Cuba's greatest export? Medical diplomacy". foreignpolicy.com. Foreign Policy. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- Hui Yan, Ho. "Taiwan Spreads Diplomatic Wings Through Regional Health Care". www.asiasentinel.com. Asia Sentinel. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- "Global Health Diplomacy". www.hhs.gov. HHS. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- and Saadoun al-Dulaimi, Aizen J. Marrogi. "Medical Diplomacy in Achieving U.S. Global Strategic Objectives". ndupress.ndu.edu. National Defense University Press. Retrieved 1 April 2020.