In this episode of the Reconnect China podcast, Hermann Aubié, Senior Researcher at the University of Turku, delves into China’s COVID-19 aid diplomacy in Europe. Aubié explores the fragmented nature of China’s global donation campaign, highlighting the roles of both state actors and private donors like the Jack Ma Foundation. He discusses the geopolitical motivations behind these aid efforts, the discrepancies between Beijing’s narrative and the data, and the implications for global health governance. This engaging conversation sheds light on how China’s aid reshaped EU perceptions and prompted lessons for future pandemic responses.
Interviewee: Hermann Aubié (University of Turku), Interviewer: Huanyu Zhao (Ghent University)
The podcast is to be accessed on Soundcloud and Spotify.