China’s Sinopharm Begins Vaccination Program in South Pacific Region

A medical staff shows the Sinopharm vaccine from China during the first day vaccination against the COVID-19 at Calmette hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Feb. 10, 2021. TANG CHHIN SOTHY/AFP via Getty Images

China’s Sinopharm began rolling out its COVID-19 vaccination program in the Solomon Islands this week, amid wider concerns of Beijing’s “vaccine diplomacy” efforts and attempts to expand its hegemony in the South Pacific region.

Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga received the first jab on May 21 at a ceremony at the Central Field Hospital in the capital city of Honiara.