India backs global resolution for independent 'inquiry' into Covid-19

In this article, Senior Reporter Smita Sharma explains the resolution seeking an independent ‘inquiry’ into the outbreak of the pandemic by 62 countries. The resolution does not accuse China of being the epicentre of the outbreak.

Australia & EU lead proposal, US and China not on board

New Delhi: Without naming Wuhan, the epicentre of Coronavirus or China, 62 countries have moved a resolution seeking an independent ‘inquiry’ into the outbreak of the pandemic. The resolution pushed jointly by Australia and the European Union (EU) comes ahead of a crucial World Health Assembly meet (WHA) in Geneva on Monday. However, the reportedly watered down cautiously worded resolution has sought an ‘evaluation’ of the pandemic instead of ‘probe or inquiry’.

India is among the 62 countries backing the motion including Albania, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Russia, Turkey and UK among others. Incidentally, though the United States has still not signalled its backing for the resolution while not surprisingly China is not on board.

The draft resolution accessed by this reporter among other issues, in conclusion, seeks to, “Initiate, at the earliest appropriate moment, and in consultation with the Member States, a stepwise process of an impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation, including using existing mechanisms, as appropriate, to review experience gained and lessons learned from the WHO-coordinated international health response to COVID-19, including (i) the effectiveness of the mechanisms at WHO’s disposal.”

(https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA73/A73_CONF1-en.pdf)

The resolution does not accuse China of being the epicentre of the outbreak. But it mentions that ‘WHO should work with the World Organisation for Animal Health to conduct "scientific and collaborative field missions" and "identify the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population, including the possible role of intermediate hosts’.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne in a statement issued said: "There is positive support for an independent review into the pandemic to help the world learn the lessons necessary to protect global health.” "This is about collaborating to equip the international community to better prevent or counter the next pandemic and keep our citizens safe,” the statement added.

Australia and European nations have been pushing for possible accountability and lessons drawn from the pandemic globally even as China made it clear that it would consider it a hostile move. The Chinese envoy in Canberra recently upped the ante threatening of tread consequences and stopping the import of beef and wine if Australia were to persist with the demand.

“This is not about any particular country or institution. This is not a time for criticism. But this should be time for openness and transparency so next time the world is confronted with a similar episode we are in a better place to deal with,” Australian High Commissioner in New Delhi had told this journalist in an earlier conversation advocating a review at a global multilateral institutional level rather than by some country alone like US which could lead to allegations of political

agenda being pushed.

“The #WHO, #Lancet and experts from many countries have made it very clear that there is no evidence of "#Wuhan lab making or leaking the virus". Destinies of all countries are closely intertwined. It would only waste more precious time by slandering others or shifting the blame,” tweeted Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong last week.

Meanwhile Australia has also been seeking a return of Taiwan to the WHO as an Observer, that Beijing has strongly objected to citing its One China Policy.

“#COVID19, Truth You Need to Know: 13. #Taiwan, being part of #China, has no right to join #WHO, whose membership requires sovereign statehood. The technical cooperation channel between China's Taiwan and WHO is unimpeded,” Chinese embassy spokesperson in Delhi Ji Rong wrote on twitter on Saturday.

India is expected to be named as Chairperson of the Executive Board of the World Health Assembly later this month in a significant development.