Sino-Japanese Rivalry in Health Diplomacy Issue in Southeast Asia

Covid-19 pandemic brought extraordinary effects to countries, not only in the business sector, but also in the health sector. Every country tries to formulate policy in battling the pandemic through domestic policies or cooperation with other countries, including countries in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia as a region is having huge population and economically strategic region, thus making Covid-19 pandemicis giving a huge challenge. China and Japan are countries with the biggest economic ties with countries in the region, and both countries are giving aids to countries in Southeast Asia to battle the pandemic through health diplomacy. China and Japan are making health diplomacy policies through vaccine’s aids or other health related aids. Based on this condition, this article is trying to assess the rivalry between China and Japan in conducting health diplomacy in Southeast Asia region as both countries are having dominant position in the region. This research employs literature study to analyze the rivalry between China and Japan in the health diplomacy sector. This research shows that China and Japan is competing with each other in the health diplomacy sector to influence the countries in the region. This research is also assessing and explaining the differences in strategy between China and Japan in developing health diplomacy strategy in the Southeast Asia region