The Federal Government is dramatically ramping up its vaccine diplomacy in the region, pledging another $500 million to help eradicate COVID-19 across South-East Asia and the Pacific.
Key points:
- The Australian Government already committed $300 million in the Budget to provide economic aid to the Pacific
- It says the additional funds will go towards fulfilling the aim of “full immunisation coverage” in Australia’s region
- Vaccines have become a theatre of diplomatic competition, with Australia and China vying for influence in the Asia Pacific
The initiative comes on top of a $300 million Budget…