TRAVERSING THE ROLE OF VACCINCE DIPLOMACY IN PHILIPPINE-CHINA RELATIONS: LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES

The Philippine-China relations have had undergone a series of changes and restructuring on foreign policy ever since the normalization of diplomatic ties between both states. Today, as the world is faced with a phenomenon that is changing the prioritization agendas on states' conduct of foreign policies: entering a global public health crisis. China has regarded vaccines as a "global public good" since 2020. There is more to it than meets the eye; behind the cloak of humanitarian intentions is a move for a projection of national interest. It is crucial to know how a global public health crisis affects both countries' foreign policy agendas. Actions triggered by the pandemic as a response would contribute to the current nature of Philippine-China relations. This study examines the role of Vaccine Diplomacy in influencing the relations between China and the Philippines. The administration chose Chinese Vaccines despite credibility issues heavily relied on the President's personal preferences as well as securing foreign policy goals. One factor that added to the President's preferences was the fact that China acted as the early bird in providing the Philippines its much-needed vaccine supplies at 600,000 doses in as early as February 28, 2021. The emergence of vaccines as powerful instrument of diplomacy in light of the current era is instrumental in fostering a sense of mutualism. Vaccine Diplomacy also fosters further cooperation between China and the Philippines. Both countries' current difficulties and hardships have a significant impact on the development of their relationship. The question of trajectory in the Philippine-China relations in a Post-Duterte context is more of a concern that possible strains inflicted by heightening tensions.