Research Center INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS DIVISION Expertise Agency of DPR RI Gd. Nusantara I Lt. 2 Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto Jakarta Pusat - 10270 c 5715409 d 5715245 m [email protected] A BRIEF STUDY OF ACTUAL AND STRATEGIC ISSUES Vol.XIII, No. 1/I/Puslit/January/2021

INDONESIA’S VACCINE DIPLOMACY FOR THE WORLD HEALTH

Humphrey Wangke

7 Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic and its spread continue haunting the world as the number of cases and victims continue increasing. To cope with the pandemic a number of countries launch vaccination programs and, at the same time, implements the policy of social distancing. However, when international collaboration is needed for global health, it seems that the advanced countries prioritize their interests. Instead of promoting international collaboration, developing countries apply their own ways. This paper will briefly discuss Indonesia's diplomacy to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic that threatens global health. As a president of a developing country, President Joko Widodo, in his speech at the UN General Assembly, reminded the importance of international collaboration and equal access for all countries to get vaccines. Indonesia and the Global Health and Foreign Policy Initiative (GHFPI) have promoted various resolutions related to global health, but developing countries are more concerned about their interests. In the end, Indonesia takes a diplomatic initiative to persuade various countries to get vaccines to break the spreading chain of COVID-19.

Introduction to promote various regional and The direction of a country’s world issues, and safeguarding the foreign policy must be in line with sovereignty and territorial integrity its national interests to achieve its of the Republic of Indonesia. common goals. Before the press on Actually, those priorities did January 7, 2021, Indonesian Foreign not come up without any cause. Minister, Retno LP Marsudi, They appeared, instead, from the stated Indonesia’s five diplomatic challenges that Indonesia faced in priorities in 2021. The five priorities 2020. will be focusing on building Among the five priorities, national self-reliance and resilience the first priority, namely building PUSLIT BKD in health care, supporting economic national self-reliance and resilience recovery and green development as in health care, will receive special well as sustainable development, attention because it is related to strengthening the protection system the COVID-19 pandemic which for Indonesian citizens, contributing has caused a severe blow to many countries in the world, including spread more rapidly, is found. This Indonesia. COVID-19 has damaged situation has prompted Indonesia to the world health and caused close the door to foreign nationals tremendous impacts on the national who wish to enter the country on economies of many countries January 1-14, 2021. Deputy Speaker around the world. It has actually of the Indonesian Parliament resulted in minus economic growth, Azis Samsudin props up the increasing unemployment, and Government’s measure because increasing number of poor people, it will break the spreading chain among others. of the new variant of COVID-19. In dealing with such bad This article will briefly analyze conditions, countries in the world how Indonesia’s diplomacy looks are competing to find a vaccine like in its efforts to overcome the that can break the spreading COVID-19 pandemic that threatens chain of the pandemic. Vaccine global health? 8 discoveries in several countries like the US, UK and China have Global Health and State provided new enthusiasm for Nationalism the world’s economic recovery. Global Health has at least three However, as indicated by Foreign main issues as its characteristics: Minister Retno LP Marsudi, another first, borderless pandemic; second, problem comes to the fore, namely the need for global cooperation; and, quality to access the vaccines as third, justice in a sense that every not all countries are able to get the country shall have equal access vaccines. Speaking before the UN to health, particularly medicines. General Assembly in September Initially, global health was 2020, President Joko Widodo considered as the domain of national warned about the importance policy, considering that each of access to vaccines to end the country has full responsibility for COVID-19 pandemic. the health of its people. However, From December 31, 2019 in its development, when the world when the first case of this disease enters a new era where sector and was reported in Wuhan, China, actor interconnection ups to another to January 7, 2021, there have level, health turns out to be a focus been more than 86 million cases of international cooperation. worldwide, claiming the death New diseases caused by toll reaching 1.8 million (Kompas, influenza viruses with new strains, January 5, 2021). In Indonesia, or old diseases that re-emerge, since the first case of COVID-19 have had more significant impacts was reported on March 2020 until today, given the larger and denser January 20, 2021, some 939,948 population and the faster and people have been reported infected more massive mobility. When by the virus, more than 26,000 these diseases cause outbreaks, people of whom died (kompas. the international community must com., January 20, 2021). The be ready to respond them with number of cases and victims is sufficient control and dissemination expected to increase as a new as well as equal distribution of variant of SARS-CoV-2, which can accessible drugs/vaccines. For decades, globalization information for WHO and to act has increased the intensity of in line with recommendations international interactions and of WHO. A number of countries exchanges of people. Actually, prioritize their national interests rapid and massive movements of rather than the global health. people have implications for the International political conditions health condition of people around spoiled by a conflict between USA the world, especially due to the risk and China have made the response of spreading disease. This risk will of each country to the pandemic increase if population movement uncoordinated. The spirit of is happening erratically. Refugees protectionism for various medical or asylum seekers who leave their devices has also strengthened in original territory due to conflicts, line with the attitude of countries for example, are particularly that have closed their borders. 9 vulnerable to health problems like Finally, competition among hunger and malnutrition and lack countries in promoting COVID-19 of access to adequate health care. vaccines in the international However, the magnitude markets has actually forced poor of the COVID-19 pandemic that and developing countries to has been spreading since the last wait a long time to get vaccines. year has actually shown how the Therefore, Indonesia has kept vision of state nationalism has fighting for treating vaccines as been an obstacle to the spirit of global public goods. Indonesia multilateralism promoted by the wants all countries in the world to UN and international organizations. have equal access to safe vaccines at A number of country leaders have affordable prices. Global health will weakened the authority of the not fully recover if there are still World Health Organization (WHO), countries that have not succeeded hindered coordinated responses in defeating COVID-19. launched by the UN, and applied the self-isolation policy in facing the Indinesian Vaccine Diplomacy pandemic. Under Donald Trump’s Indonesian vaccine diplomacy leadership, the US withdrew from aimed mainly at opening market WHO and refused to fulfill its access, paving the ways, and donation obligations to the World overcoming various obstacles Health Organization. Likewise, is carried out through bilateral after receiving criticism from WHO approaches involving all and many other countries, China stakeholders. Although in various finally allowed the world’s health international forums Indonesia experts to visit Wuhan in order to has repeatedly mentioned the find out how the virus first passed importance of equality in accessing from animals to humans to prevent medical devices, including vaccines, another pandemic from happening. Indonesia must make clever The weakening of international maneuvers to fight for its interests. institutions has been actually And, thanks to the bilateral coupled with the reluctance of approaches, the Indonesian vaccine many countries to provide accurate diplomacy in the COVID-19 case has resulted in real and effective of 2009 concerning control of results. emerging infectious disease and Foreign Minister Retno health human resources; Resolution Marsudi has visited many No. 65/95/2010 concerning global countries such as China, England governance and achievement and Switzerland to ensure the of the MDGs; Resolution No. availability of vaccines for the 66/115 of 2011 concerning Indonesian people. By empowering health, environment, and natural the Indonesian Embassies, disasters; Resolution No. 67/81 of Indonesia has succeeded in joining 2013 regarding Universal Health the Advanced Market Commitment Coverage (UHC); and Resolution group, which means that Indonesia No. 68/98 of 2014 regarding global will enjoy 20 percent of the partnerships. Currently, all of these population provided by WHO to resolutions have just revealed their vaccines. Despite the principle of urgencies when the world must 10 “all vaccine for same people in deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. some countries”, WHO provides At the 75th UN General vaccines for only 20 percent of Assembly in September 2020 the total population of a country. attended by President Joko Widodo, Thanks to the bilateral approaches, once again, Indonesia came up Indonesia has successfully obtained with a proposal emphasizing vaccines for Sinovac (China), the importance of collaboration Pfizer (US), and AstraZeneca and collective global leadership (UK). Indonesia’s main bilateral in dealing with the pandemic. vaccine diplomacy is to ensure the Following up on this proposal, on availability of the 20 percent quota 14 December 2020, Indonesia has of the population provided by succeeded in initiating another WHO. resolution of the UN General In addition to the bilateral Assembly, namely “Global Health approach, Indonesia also takes and Foreign Policy: Strengthening multilateral approaches, which Health System Resilience through have actually been applied by Affordable Healthcare for All”. Indonesia for a long time by Through this resolution, Indonesia integrating foreign policies in highly emphasizes the importance global health issues. Indonesia has of accessible and affordable health entered into collaboration with services to strengthen the global South Africa, Brazil, Norway, health resilience system. This France, Senegal, and Thailand to resolution is in line with Indonesia’s establish the Global Health and position as Chairman of GHFPI, Foreign Policy Initiative (GHFPI) actively propping up the global in September 2006 in New York. efforts to overcome the impact Subsequently, GHFPI sponsors of the COVID-19 pandemic. It the issuance of various resolutions also provides clear evidence of of the UN in relation to infectious Indonesia’s active roles in fighting diseases, including: the Resolution for international solidarity for adopted by the United Nations global health, especially in coping General Assembly No. 64/108 with the COVID-19 pandemic. In presenting the resolution coordinated. Each country seems to other members of the UN, to work alone to overcome the Indonesia stated that this resolution pandemic in its own way according would ask members of the UN to its own interests. International to strengthen the affordable cooperation has been neglected due national health services, to create to the ongoing US-China conflict. innovative policies related to Indonesia must take diplomatic health care financing, and to avoid initiatives to various countries to discrimination in dealing with obtain vaccines that are needed the pandemic. The resolution also to break the spreading chain of encourages the government to COVID-19. team up with businesses, NGOs and academics. High appreciation References should be also granted to health “Australia urges China to Give 11 workers during the pandemic. access to WHO experts”, The For Indonesia, partnerships with Jakarta Post, January 8th, 2021, all stakeholders are capital to rise p. 8. together from the impact of the “China knocks on door as RI COVID-19 pandemic. This kind prepares vaccine rollout”, The of diplomacy is important to Jakarta Post, January 12, 2021, safeguard sovereignty, stimulate the p. 1. domestic economy, and show a joint “Globalizing the COVID-19 commitment to tackle the pandemic. Vaccine”, The Jakarta Post, 6 Actually, in addition to January 2021 p. 7. proposing UN resolutions, “Kasus Naik Vaksin Dikebut”, Indonesia has been actively fighting Kompas, 5 January 2021, p. 4. for the availability of COVID-19 “Kemitraan untuk Bangkit vaccines for all countries, instead Bersama”, Kompas, January 8, of letting them under unfair 2021, p. 4. control of developed countries. “Lockdowns return as nations fight Facing such conditions, the House resurgent virus”, The Jakarta of Representatives can carry out Post, 6 January 2021, p. 1. parliamentary diplomacy to help the Marsudi, Retno LP. “Diplomasi government obtain vaccines through Vaksin di Tengah Pandemi”, various international parliamentary Kompas, 7 January 2021, p. 6. forums such as IPU, AIPA, PUIC, “Politik Luar Negeri RI Sesuai and APPF, among others. If possible, Tantangan, Kompas, January 7, the House can initiate establishment 2021, p. 1. a new, adhoc, multilateral vehicle Ramadan, Aditya. “Membangun as inter-parliamentary interaction Kembali Tata Kelola Kesehatan medium to cope with the COVID-19 Global, Kompas, 24 December pandemic. 2020, p. 4. “RI shuts borders as new COVID-19 Closing strain spreads”, The Jakarta Even though the COVID-19 Post, 29 December 2020, p. 1. pandemic has threatened the global “Tim WHO Team Kaji Asal health, international cooperation Korona”, Kompas, 6 January to overcome it has not been well 2021, p. 5. “Tiongkok Blokade Tim WHO”, Wireng Pvt., Dian, “COVID-19 Media Indonesia, January 7, dan Pertarungan Kekuatan 2021, p. 8. Global”, Kompas, 4 January “UPDATE: Bertambah 12,568, Total 2021, p. 7. Kasus Covid-19 Indonesia 939,948 people”, kompas. com., 20 January 2021, https:// national.kompas.com/ read/2021/01/20/update- bertambah-12568-total-kasus- covid-19-indonesia-939948- people, accessed January 20, 2021. 12

Humphrey Wangke [email protected]

Dr. Humphrey Wangke, M.Si. completed his Bachelor in International Relations in 1988 at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of the University of Jember and his Masters in 1998 at the American Regional Studies Program of the University of Indonesia. In 2018 he completed his doctoral program at School of Environmental Sciences (SIL) of the University of Indonesia. Currently, he serves as Principal Researcher with Expertise on Strategic Political Issues at the Expertise Research Center of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia. Several papers have been published in journals and books, including: “Diplomasi Indonesia dan Pembangunan Konektivitas Maritim (2018)”, “Kerjasama Indonesia-Malaysia dalam Pengelolaan Perbatasan di Kalimantan (2017)”, “Solving the Problem of Illegal Logging through the Implementation of the Model of Partnership Between Balai TNK and the Local Community (The Case Study of Illegal Logging in TNK, East Kalimantan (2017), “The Management of Kutai National Park through the Multi-stakeholder Partnership (2017)”.

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