India, meanwhile, had exported almost 69 million doses to nearly 100 countries until it suffered the world's worst outbreak and halted further deliveries. The WHO authorisation, a de facto approval for regulators in poorer countries, could help unleash hundreds of millions of doses of Chinese shots. Global surveys have shown Chinese shots are the least favoured in several places. Still, China's contributions will be crucial in the race to inoculate large populations across the developing world before outbreaks — and variants — spread too widely. "It has become an opportunity for China to demonstrate to the world that its rise cannot be stopped."

Source: The Edge Markets May 19, 2021 12:56 UTC