Re:The FBI investigating hacking of Covid research by “PRC-a...
by GuB-42 on Tuesday May 26, 2020 @02:06PM
(#23314425)
> Also, 1st country with viable vaccine/treatment/etc will have a huge geopolitical bargaining chip & it will likely be used as such no matter the country of origin.
Definitely, but thankfully, it is a positive sum game.
First thing, you won't keep your bargaining chip for long. If a country manages to find a vaccine, others will follow soon enough. Besides independent research and reverse engineering efforts, it is foolish to think that the US doesn't have spies and hackers targeting China.
So in order to use that "bargaining chip", the vaccine has to be at least as valuable as what you are asking for in exchange. So while it may cost a lot to the country that doesn't have the vaccine, if it took the deal, it means that the cost is less than not having a vaccine at all.
In the end it will be used to help as many people as possible, because it is the only thing a vaccine can do. Unless someone wants a full-on war that is. But if major powers really wanted the worst, there is a pile of nukes that is ready to make the whole pandemic look like a joke.
Re:The FBI investigating hacking of Covid research by “PRC-a...
by nineparts on Tuesday May 26, 2020 @11:45PM
(#23319165)
If Russia gave it to them via China which made it from research stolen from the USA, I wouldn't call it "funny." I would call it "saving half a face, just in case."
Definitely, but thankfully, it is a positive sum game.
First thing, you won't keep your bargaining chip for long. If a country manages to find a vaccine, others will follow soon enough. Besides independent research and reverse engineering efforts, it is foolish to think that the US doesn't have spies and hackers targeting China.
So in order to use that "bargaining chip", the vaccine has to be at least as valuable as what you are asking for in exchange. So while it may cost a lot to the country that doesn't have the vaccine, if it took the deal, it means that the cost is less than not having a vaccine at all.
In the end it will be used to help as many people as possible, because it is the only thing a vaccine can do. Unless someone wants a full-on war that is. But if major powers really wanted the worst, there is a pile of nukes that is ready to make the whole pandemic look like a joke.