Indian Extended Hand Over Vaccines To Neighbours Hurts Chinese Ego

India has helped push China back as its generous gesture of donating the indigenously done Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine is getting praises from its South Asian patrons. 

India has sent off a supply manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. Supplies have started to be sent to the Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Myanmar and Seychelles are next in line to get free consignments as India. Critics feel India is using its prowess to build a bridge of friendship with these nations. 

In the context of Nepal, India’s move is going to cement their fracturing ties. China is still awaiting clearance on its vaccine candidate that does not provide more than 60percent virus efficacy.  Even Bangladesh is going to benefit from the free doses coming in from India. Previously, it had been promised 110,000 free doses by China.  This was promised by the Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech. But Bangladesh refused to contribute towards the development cost of the vaccine leading to a deadlock and eventually India has harnessed the opportunity.

Under the Narendra Modi leadership, India has secured its mark with these nations which have been the rock bed for infrastructural growth for China. Instead, India has secured its position with these nations, as it comes in handy with a vaccine to countries that are tourism-dependent and would like to go back to business as soon as possible. 

India is considering giving away anything from 12 million to 20 million shots to its neighbors in the first wave of assistance over the next three to four weeks, one government source said.

Additionally, India is also helping training and setting up of required infrastructure for the administration of the medication, which (thankfully) can withstand neutral temperatures and does not need cold refrigeration.