China-US Corporate Philanthropy Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

AbstractCOVID-19 has caused unprecedented global public health and economic crises. However, at a time when international cooperation is needed more than ever, tensions between the US and China have hindered joint efforts to address the pandemic. In this context, Chinese and US enterprises have emerged as key actors in non-governmental cooperation between the two countries, helping to transport essential supplies to affected populations as well as provide services to assist with global knowledge sharing and coordinated prevention and relief efforts. The pandemic has turned out to be a milestone in the development of China’s overseas corporate philanthropy, similar to how the 2008 Sichuan earthquake was a catalyst for the development of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) domestically. This chapter presents a case study of China-US cooperation by enterprises amidst the pandemic to show the valuable role that companies can play in responding to a crisis, while also helping to build both bilateral bridges and trust in an otherwise challenging geopolitical environment.KeywordsCOVID-19 pandemicChina-US relationsCorporate philanthropyCSR