Beijing: The US has refused India’s request to ease exports for vaccine raw materials. Meanwhile, India’s COVID-19 epidemic is getting into its “worst possible phase.” By contrast, the US has celebrated its milestone of reaching the goal of 200 million shots. How ironic!
The US government has spiritually supported India in the epidemic fight in various occasions. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted on Sunday to show sympathy and support to the Indian people. He wrote, “Our hearts go out to the Indian people in the midst of the horrific COVID-19 outbreak. We are working closely with our partners in the Indian government, and we will rapidly deploy additional support to the people of India and India’s health care heroes.”
Nonetheless, as the US still faces challenges posed by COVID-19, it will continue to focus on meeting its domestic demands. Thus, in the near future it will be hard to see Washington give a substantial hand to other countries, including India, to fight the virus.
Countries like India should be aware that they are pawns to the US. They might be picked up when the US needs them, but then discarded like used tissue when they are not useful any more. The US has been attempting to bind India to its anti-China chariot. But when it is about support with practical moves, the US has stepped back with its commitment to take care of Americans “first and foremost.” Hypocrisy of the US and the West has been exposed in this regard, together with their selfishness. Some Indians have realized such hypocrisy. “If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that Western emphasis on human rights is one humungous farce,” wrote K Bhattacharjee, an Indian author, at OpIndia media.
However, the US has attached special importance to India’s strategic value as a leverage to suppress China. If India was weakened by the still wildly spreading COVID-19, it would obviously be less effective to the US’ anti-China campaign.
The US won’t want to see this happen. So it is possible that Washington will reach out to New Delhi with some symbolic supports, including donations. In addition, the US-led Quad maybe has also disappointed India. At the “historic” Quad summit, the leaders of the US, Australia and Japan vowed to ramp up production of vaccines in India. This was done to counter China’s vaccine distribution assistance to other countries and regions.
However, as India is more severely hit by the epidemic, both the US and Australia have issued only their vocal support. But Japan has remained silent so far.
–The Daily Mail-Global Times news exchange item
