Similar views on China’s help
Analysts have similar views about India’s assessment of China’s offer.
“Most of the world, including India, holds China responsible for the pandemic,” Joy Mitra, a non-resident fellow at the EastWest Institute in Washington D.C., told Zenger News.
“Beijing is virtually sitting on the Indian territory [in the northern Sikkim border region], making it very difficult for New Delhi to accept Beijing’s offer.”
“India and China have been engaged in a vaccine diplomacy competition. Both have shipped homemade vaccines globally,” Mitra said. “It would be bad optics for Modi to accept China’s offer in such a case.”
China helps on U.S. delay
Nonetheless, India seems to have initiated cooperation with China in some capacity, though not through official channels.
“Chinese medical suppliers are working overtime on orders from India,” China’s Ambassador to India Sun Weidong tweeted on April 28. This indicates that many organizations are using private channels to extend help to India.
“At least 25,000 orders for oxygen concentrators in recent days. Cargo planes are under the plan for medical supplies. Chinese customs will facilitate relevant processes.”
“800 oxygen concentrators have been airlifted from Hong Kong to New Delhi; 1,000 more in a week. China is keeping in touch with India for urgent needs,” China’s embassy in Sri Lanka tweeted.
U.S. steps in after an initial delay
The U.S. recently invoked the Defense Production Act to boost local vaccine production and limit the export of raw materials to other countries. U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price also said Washington had a “special responsibility to the American people”.
But President Joseph R. Biden has pledged emergency assistance after a conversation with Modi. A White House statement released on April 26 stated that the U.S. “is [now] providing a range of emergency assistance, including oxygen-related supplies, vaccine materials, and therapeutics”.
So far, more than 20 countries have offered to help India in different capacities.
“Many nations are sending material support to India now. Domestic capacity and logistics are also being supplemented,” Mitra said.
“I don’t think India would directly take China’s offer right now. Not unless other sources do not address the gap between demand and supply.”
(Edited by Amrita Das and Gaurab Dasgupta)
