China’s contentious diplomacy at work as India battles Wuhan Virus

The second Wuhan virus wave overwhelmed India’s limited health resources and exposed the glaring under-preparedness of governments. Plagued by a tsunami of infections which increased several folds in two months, India is pooling up all the resources to wade through the bio-warfare (as alluded by some analysts).

China has a typical way of carrying out diplomacy and The Global Times which leads its propaganda machinery has plays a major role. Unlike the media agencies of other countries, which can be dismissed as regular banter of media outlets, Dragon’s governance is highly opaque and these propaganda agencies at times offer crucial insights about Beijing’s policies.

At this juncture, in what can be considered as a precursor to the Wolf-warrior diplomacy during the first wave of Wuhan virus pandemic, The Global Times, CCP’s mouth piece published an article, titled, “Be Wary of India’s provocation amid worsening pandemic”.

Rallying the message of CCP to Delhi, the opening paragraph read, “as the COVID-19 epidemic continues to worsen in India, the country may turn to old tricks, such as initiating provocations on its borders with China or Pakistan, fanning nationalist sentiments at home, to distract people’s attention”¹.

Imputing motives where there exists none, Beijing’s provocative machinery has attempted to needle the precarious Indo-Chinese ties which plummeted following a year long stand-off at the LAC.  These searing remarks amid a stalemate that ensued post 11^th Indo-China commander level talks on forward movement in disengagement at friction points- Hot Springs, Depsang and Gogra ringed of caution. Accordingly, despite the raging pandemic, Army Chief MM Naravane visited the forward positions in Eastern Ladakh and Siachen to review operational preparedness.

With the pull back of troops by both sides from the North and South Pangong Tso, in February while Chinese threat has abated it hasn’t gone away completely. After the tactical withdrawal at the strategic location, China has adopted an inflexible approach. The undue reference to provocations now might thus be China’s way of reminding India of the intimidation inflicted during the first wave of Wuhan virus pandemic.

Under the pandemic cover last year, China has intensified its expansionist agenda in South China Sea,  indulged in indiscriminatory air space violations and maritime incursions across Taiwan Straits and Senakaku contiguous area, penetrative incursions across LAC, illegal occupation of the border pillar areas of Nepal and laying claims to the wild life sanctuary to Bhutan’s Trashigang area.

Shifting gears, taking an indirect dig at India’s handling of the Wuhan pandemic, the article also suggested, “against the backdrop of the pandemic deteriorating, New Delhi should open its mind and figure out a way to get Beijing’s help to curb the grave spread of the disease”.  As an extension to this article, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin summed up, “the Chinese side notes that the epidemic situation in India is severe and there is a temporary shortage of epidemic prevention and medical supplies. We are ready to provide necessary support and assistance to India so that they can control the epidemic”².

With an offer of help, which Delhi would be least willing seek given the bloodshed at the Galwan valley and the brazen breach of trust, Beijing has grabbed the headlines. The news hungry Indian media immediately lapped up the benign announcement. Post announcement, Indian traders reported of an escalation of air freight charges by over 20%.

Indeed, this volte-face doesn’t come as a surprise to many analysts. To duck the charges of the complicity of Wuhan virus, China first unveiled mask diplomacy. Under the garb of generosity Beijing distributed medical supplies to countries, which it has received as gifts from other nations when it was hit by the pandemic. In this image building exercise, China shipped defective supplies to several countries. When countries questioned China’s dubious diplomacy, Beijing’s wolf-war diplomats initially countered and later threatened smaller countries of consequences by imposing heavy tariffs on imports and crippling trade sanctions.

India sent 15 tonnes of medical supplies to China when China struggled to contain the virus spread. But China returned the favour with an offensive at the LAC and low-quality medical kits.

China’s help is not genuine and its intentions are well exposed by another scathing piece titled “Devastating epidemic ‘may drag Indian economy back to 20 years ago’; China stands ready to help” on Global Times which brazenly asks India, “to put aside political biases to learn from China”². Till now, World hasn’t forgotten Chinese help that required countries to co-finance vaccine trials and the insistence of mandatory Chinese vaccine jabs to obtain a visa. Vaccine efficacy of Chinese jabs is still questionable and they are not listed by WHO. Only after countries sought reciprocity did China back down.

Unlike the India’s Vaccine Maitri which came with no strings attached, China is using the vaccines for political purposes.

Barely 24 hours of Beijing’s offer of help, Sichuan airlines suspended cargo flights to India for 15 days citing the pandemic situation affecting the logistics of medical supplies chain. Though fresh media reports indicate that the airlines is re-evaluating a final plan to resume services to India. Official statement from the airlines is still awaited. Interestingly, the airlines operated throughout the pandemic carrying all kinds of Chinese products to India. But at the crucial hour of need, citing fear of importing infections, Sichuan defended its decision.

Reiterating its pledge Chinese ambassador tweeted, “it would encourage and guide Chinese companies to actively participate in facilitating various needed medical supplies for India”³. Contrarily, Chinese manufacturers have jacked prices of the COVID supplies by 35 -40% ⁴ amid demand surge for supplies in India. China’s inhuman practices is a testimony to its diabolical policies, duplicity and is in contravention to basic ethics of professed harmony and empathy.

Last year, China tightened export restrictions stalled the supply of much needed COVID protective gear, ventilators, masks and other essential supplies when America was scrambling for resources. These logjams have strained China’s relations with America⁵. China’s callous approach during the pandemic has exposed its real intentions.

Henry Kissinger’s prophetic words, “to be an enemy of America is dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal” dominated the narrative in India following Biden administration’s delayed response to India’s appeal for export of raw material for vaccine production. Not contend with the incongruency in its words and actions amid ravaging pandemic, the Global times piece also attempted to drive a wedge between India and the US.  In its characteristic scathing tone, China’s propaganda machinery remarked, “this pandemic shows that the West’s getting closer to India is more in a geopolitical sense”. “Western public opinion has not shown the same concern about India’s epidemic situation as it did to that of Europe and the US. Or maybe it is because India’s population is too large, and they believe it is not realistic for the West to “save India,”¹it added.

Since the resurrection of Quad, China hasn’t missed any opportunity to ignite a strategic dawdling in India by alluding to India’s burgeoning partnership with US as antithetical to its stated “strategic autonomy”. Despite the pandemic, China is leaving no stone unturned to sow seeds of distrust

With its insensitive, mercantilist approach, China has shown the World what it stands for. Beijing’s solemn pledge for a collective fight against Wuhan virus pandemic is farce. Rightly so, India declined Beijing’s invite to join its initiative for fighting the pandemic with South Asian nations⁶. Giving a cold shoulder India refused to recognise the initiative altogether. Notably this initiative has come at a time when SAARC countries are forced to look for an alternative vaccine supply after India’s vaccine manufacturers are overwhelmed with country’s increasing demand for vaccines.

Ever keen to cast a dominating influence in India’s neighbourhood and with India busy attending to Wuhan virus pandemic, Beijing is working hard to woo SAARC nations. Having triggered this preventable crisis, China besides exploiting the pandemic to its fullest is now lecturing India about how to handle the Wuhan virus pandemic.

Dominated by two inward looking major powers, the World which is witnessing a leadership crisis which can herald a united fight against the Wuhan virus. Consequently, countries are rendered vulnerable to this pandemic in an interconnected world. Unrepentant of its despicable moral irresponsibility, China is milking this opportunity to inflict every possible damage on India, a befitting challenger to its regional hegemony. Time World comes together to push back and show China, its real place, a condemnable global pariah!!!

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