ABSTRACT
China and India have expanded their involvement in global health governance. With their status as emerging powers, they have played a role in global health governance that is distinct from more established powers with their contribution to the development of global health norms and institutions. They were proactively engaged in global health governance through their vaccine diplomacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their motivations for vaccine diplomacy converge in terms of geopolitical interest, economic benefits, and humanitarian relief. However, their tactics diverged as they have different strategic priorities, vaccine supply chains, and production capacities. The two countries’ vaccine diplomacy overwhelmingly contributed to the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries and promoted global health security and justice, which heralded the potentially transformative power of China and India in the global health governance landscape.
