Introduction
“The Chinese Community in Zimbabwe Actively Make Donations to Wuhan.”
“Chinese Embassy Provides Health Packs to Chinese Students in Britain.”
“Spotlight: As China Recovers from Covid-19 Blow, Chinese Rush to Europe’s Rescue.”
The three news headlines above illustrate some of the care flows that marked the changing contours of the transnational Chinese state in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic. When the pandemic began in Wuhan, Overseas Chinese, voluntarily or mobilised by the Chinese state, crowdfunded to send medical supplies to the vulnerable homeland. As the pandemic panned out globally, the Chinese state, assuming the role of a benevolent motherland, evolved to become a source of care for its diaspora. “Corona care” was also quickly built into China’s international cooperation agenda. The Chinese practised “coronavirus diplomacy” through delivering health care materials and personnel to friendship states in need. The shifting nature and directionality of care offers ...