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How Vietnam, Despite Shutdowns, Can Afford to Donate 1M Face Masks Overseas

Ralph Jennings

   TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Vietnam's shops and restaurants are closed to
   stopthespread of the deadly COVID-19 respiratory disease. Factory work
   is slowing because of weak demand in other parts of the world that are
   under their own shutdowns.

   But Vietnam has donated more than 1 million face masks overseas in an
   apparent sign of goodwill. Specifically, this month it sent 550,000
   masks to Western Europe, a total of 200,000 to Russia and 250,000 to
   the United States, Vietnamese media outlets say.

   The Southeast Asian country ravaged by war 50 years ago and still
   developing today can afford to make those donations, observers in the
   country say.

   That's first because the Vietnamese government is reporting a disease
   caseload of just 268 with no deaths, both low compared to other parts
   of the worlddespite a97 million Vietnamese population plus a land
   border with the virus's origin China. A higher load would raise
   domestic demand for the masks that are typically worn by hospital staff
   people.

   Officialsare using their wealth of masksto fortify relations with
   specific countries that are receiving Vietnamese masks, analysts
   believe.

   "I think they want to take advantage of this situation to promote mask
   diplomacy and now I think the government is more confident in glossing
   its image internationally," said Nguyen Thanh Trung, Center for
   International Studies director at the University of Social Sciences and
   Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City.

   Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son handed over the
   250,000 U.S.-bound masks to the American ambassador on April 16,
   domestic news outletVnExpressInternational reported. The deputy
   minister personally donated $100,000 worth of face masks and other
   medical supplies that same day to Japan, the report said.

   Vietnam especially wants good U.S. relations now, Nguyen said. The
   United States helps it monitor for Chinese activity in a sea that China
   disputes with Vietnam. Japan and Vietnam signed a memorandum in 2018 to
   work together on maritime issues as both hope to reign in China.
   

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