Chinese President Xi Jinping sent Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a letter expressing his concern over the rapidly deteriorating situation in India amid a disastrous second wave of COVID-19 and offered Beijing’s assistance.
A copy of the letter was tweeted by Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong.
Xi wrote: “I am very concerned about the recent situation of COVID-19 pandemic in India. On behalf of the Chinese Government and people, as well as in my own name, I would like to express sincere sympathies to the Indian Government and people.”
He went on to say: “Humanity is a community with a shared future. Only through solidarity and cooperation can countries around the world ultimately defeat the pandemic.”
Xi ended his letter by lending a helping hand, writing: “The Chinese side stands ready to strengthen cooperation with the Indian side in fighting the pandemic and provide support and help in this regard. I believe that under the leadership of the Indian Government, the Indian people will surely prevail over the pandemic.”
In fact, on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi wrote a fairly similar letter to Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. In it he said, “The coronavirus is the common enemy of mankind, and the international community needs solidarity and coordination for a concerted response. The Chinese side firmly supports the Indian Government and people in fighting the pandemic.”
Wang added, “The Chinese side will continue to do its utmost to provide support and help according to the needs of India. We hope and believe that under the leadership of the Indian Government, the Indian people will surely prevail over the epidemic at an early date.”
Likewise, last Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in a press conference: “China expresses sincere sympathies to India over the deteriorating situation in the country recently. The Chinese government and people firmly support the Indian government and people in fighting the coronavirus. China is ready to provide support and help according to India's need, and is in communication with the Indian side on this. We believe that the Indian people will defeat the virus at an early date.”
Despite these multiple offers of assistance, though, it has been reported that Chinese state-run Sichuan Airline had suspended cargo flights to India for 15 days, which is thought to have brought a halt to the transportation of oxygen concentrators and other medical supplies from China to India.
Another foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, however, has rubbished these reports, calling them “fake news”. Furthermore, on Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador Sung tweeted that “at least 25,000 orders for oxygen concentrators” are being processed by Chinese customs facilities, and that Chinese medical suppliers are “working overtime on orders from India”.
The topic of medical cargo was discussed by Wang and Jaishankar during a phone call on Friday, when Jaishankar said that it was important for “transport corridors and cargo flights [to] remain open,” as India is trying to source raw materials from China to combat the virus. In response, Wang reaffirmed that China would “ensure that all the required materials flow to Indian entities without any delay.”
The pair also discussed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and Jaishankar said that China must honour its commitment to disengaging from the border to ensure the “full restoration of peace and tranquility.”
In fact, India Today’s Shiv Aroor reported in the early hours of Saturday that “China has quietly hardened its positions in eastern Ladakh.” He wrote that anonymous sources had told him that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has “reinforced its presence in eastern Ladakh depth areas with permanent accommodations and depots.” There are also reports that the Chinese army has set up a combined air defence system somewhere close to the Indian border.
Therefore, while China appears to be offering assistance to India in its fight against COVID-19, it is evident that the two countries’ tensions along their shared border are set to continue, despite outwardly commitments towards disengagement.
Chinese President Xi Writes to Indian PM Modi Offering COVID-19 Assistance
Xi wrote, “The Chinese side stands ready to strengthen cooperation with the Indian side in fighting the pandemic and provide support and help in this regard.”
May 1, 2021
IMAGE SOURCE: WU HONG / REUTERSChinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Indian PM Narendra Modi