Coronavirus: China a winner no matter who comes first in global race for vaccine

KUALA LUMPUR - China's control of the base ingredients to make medicines gives the Asian giant leverage over the production of a coronavirus vaccine no matter who wins the global race to discover it.

This could give Beijing a crucial advantage even as tensions with Washington have intensified during the Covid-19 outbreak amid a blame game over the cause of the highly infectious disease that has put more than half of humanity into various levels of lockdown. China also holds a near-monopoly further upstream on thousands of key starting materials such as chemical intermediates and ingredients from antibiotic fermentation plants and pigs. The Asian superpower's pharmaceutical industry has benefited in the past from cornering the supply chain by increasing manufacturing capacity and what Ms Gibson said were cartel-like practices such as price-fixing.

However, concerns over Beijing holding the world to ransom could be tempered by the inter-dependence on trade for healthcare goods used in fighting the coronavirus.

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

China needs to up its birthrate: China Daily contributorsIn the article, the writers suggest that China's Ministry of Finance could consider the overall distribution of maternity subsidies.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

China military's Hong Kong garrison has ability to safeguard China, city's security: CommanderBEIJING: Chinese military officers and soldiers stationed in the garrison in Hong Kong have the determination and ability to safeguard China's ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Corruption convictions nearly double in China over last yearThe number of convictions related to corruption in China nearly doubled last year, according to a report by Beijing's top prosecutor, as President ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

China to strengthen policy, lower lending ratesBEIJING: China will strengthen its economic policy and continue efforts to lower interest rates on loans, central bank Governor Yi Gang said, ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

China reports 7 new COVID-19 casesSHANGHAI: China reported seven new confirmed COVID-19 cases as of end-May 25, up from 11 a day earlier, the National Health Commission reported. ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

China threatens US counter measures if punished for Hong Kong lawHONG KONG — China on Monday (May 25) threatened counter measures against the United States if it is punished for plans to impose on Hong Kong a sedition law, which the business hub's security chief hailed as a new tool to defeat
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »