New Delhi: Despite being home to the world’s largest vaccine industry, India itself is facing problem to overcome the challenges of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. India’s much-touted vaccine diplomacy effort has recently been at its low and is now facing criticism.
The nation has restrained shipment of vaccine to other countries as it continues to battle the fresh wave of the pandemic, amid an acute shortage of pharmaceutical needs claiming thousands of lives so far.
Therefore, India’s fight against the pandemic perceived immense support from countries worldwide. Most importantly, in recent days, the United States has reached out to India and in a major move, the nation did a turnaround on the supply of raw material for the vaccine to India after the NSA level talks held between the two countries on Monday.
The Biden administration is ramping up its vaccine diplomacy efforts and has decided to send immediately a whole series of help to India including Remdesivir and other drugs helpful in dealing with the deadly virus. Also, the white house has decided that the US will share up to 60 million doses of its AstraZeneca vaccine with other countries. The vaccine doses will be exported in the coming months after a federal safety review. The US has a stockpile of the vaccine even though its regulators have not yet authorized it for public use.
Now the question is whether the United States of America will overtake China in vaccine diplomacy because both have been considered global vaccine competitor. Russia adds to the list too.
Surprisingly, after the United States decided to assist India and other countries, taking advantage of India’s failed vaccine policy and its battle against the second wave of the pandemic, China is setting its strategic foot.
On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a virtual meeting with his counterparts from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka on cooperating to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Foreign Minister Wang said that New Delhi was invited to the meeting. However, there has been no response from the Indian side on the same.
An expert opines that China does not have an advantage in terms of vaccine the way it had before.
“While India has restricted exports of vaccine to other countries, it is very unlikely that other countries would tilt to China because their vaccine is not credible in the international market. In my view, American vaccines would be preferred compared to China’s. So I don’t think China will get any greater advantage and the United States should be able to overtake China in terms of vaccine diplomacy”, Professor Harsh V Pant, Director, Research, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi told ETV Bharat.
During Tuesday’s foreign minister's meeting, the Chinese FM said that Beijing is willing to provide them with stable vaccine supplies and medical aid through a multilateral framework.
Read: US supplies of AstraZeneca vaccine to India could take 'weeks'
This move by China comes as a major blow to India’s already distressing situation. Wang Yi also reiterated that China is ready to provide support and help to the Indian people at any time as per the country's need.
He stated that relevant Chinese enterprises have taken active actions with the support of the Chinese government, and the first batch of oxygen concentrators have been sent to India.
Further, Professor Pant said, "United States decision to send Astrazeneca to countries worldwide is a welcome change. This means that America is likely to become an important player in vaccine diplomacy and Russia, China will take a backseat given that countries have greater faith in the American system by and large. Given the lack of confidence that the world has in the Chinese vaccine, I think the challenge for Russia and China would continue”.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladamir Putin to discuss the evolving Covid-19 pandemic situation. Both the leaders noted the ongoing cooperation between the two countries to fight against the global pandemic.
They noted that the Russian Sputnik V vaccine will be manufactured in India for use in India, Russia and third countries. Although the first batch of the Sputnik V vaccine is likely to arrive in India on May 1, the efficacy of the Russian vaccine is still a question.
Also Read: India, Russia to establish a '2+2 ministerial dialogue' between foreign, defence ministers
