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This is how the US gives a spin to events routinely to tarnish the image of China. And the geopolitically naive Indian media and public lap it up due to the prevailing anti-China confirmation bias.
Let me break it down in a 12-point #explainer:
1/16 https://twitter.com/Geeta_Mohan/status/1387449048420937729
1. The US has faced a backlash in India for a) the initial refusal to lift the export ban on vaccine raw materials; & b) the Biden-administration’s delayed response, even a tweet of support, to the pandemic crisis in India.
2/16 https://www.firstpost.com/world/joe-bidens-america-first-policy-on-vaccines-may-create-a-serious-wrinkle-in-bilateral-ties-as-pandemic-ravages-india-9560341.html
2/16 https://www.firstpost.com/world/joe-bidens-america-first-policy-on-vaccines-may-create-a-serious-wrinkle-in-bilateral-ties-as-pandemic-ravages-india-9560341.html
2. China was among the first countries to extend help and sympathy to India as the situation spiraled out of control last week. Many Indians have expressed appreciation for the Chinese gesture, despite the recent tensions in bilateral relations.
3/16 https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/28/china/china-india-covid-relief-mic-intl-hnk/index.html
3/16 https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/28/china/china-india-covid-relief-mic-intl-hnk/index.html
3. US realizes it’s a PR disaster. Responds with statements from all the top honchos in the Biden admin; promises assistance with medical/oxygen supplies; also says it will lift the export ban on the much-needed vaccine raw materials.
4/16 https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1386401947729633280
4/16 https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1386401947729633280
4. Mind you, the lifting of the export ban on vaccine raw materials is not a done deal yet in the US, as this @politico report explains.
5/16 https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/27/biden-vaccines-abroad-484850
5/16 https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/27/biden-vaccines-abroad-484850
5. But the US still relies on China for Covid-related medical supplies incl Oxygen and Oxygen concentrators (two key items India needs the most). Remember, China is the biggest producer of these items. So the US needs to procure it from China first.
6/16 https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2021/03/were-still-reliant-on-china-for-covid-protective-gear-rep-stephen-lynch-urges-state-local-governments-to-bolster-american-ppe-market.html
6/16 https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2021/03/were-still-reliant-on-china-for-covid-protective-gear-rep-stephen-lynch-urges-state-local-governments-to-bolster-american-ppe-market.html
6. Meanwhile, China’s cargo routes to India are hampered and not working to their full capacity due to the outbreak in India. Most of its manufacturers are working overtime to meet the increasing demand from private agencies/NGOs in India.
7/16 https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-04-28/VHJhbnNjcmlwdDU0Mjg1/index.html
7/16 https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-04-28/VHJhbnNjcmlwdDU0Mjg1/index.html
7. Indian govt hasn’t officially accepted China’s assistance, but China is unilaterally facilitating the supplies to Indian private agencies/NGOs.
8/16
https://twitter.com/China_Amb.../status/1387401477010849792
8/16
https://twitter.com/China_Amb.../status/1387401477010849792
8. China has supplied more than 5000 ventilators, 21569 oxygen generators, over 21.48 million masks & around 3800 tons of medicines to #India, according to statistics of the General Administration of Customs of China.
9/16
https://twitter.com/China_Amb.../status/1387749725177143302
9/16
https://twitter.com/China_Amb.../status/1387749725177143302
9. Remember Point 4? The US doesn’t have its own supplies for India, so it places an order for Oxygen concentrators and other medical supplies to China and asks it to deliver them to India.
10/16
10/16
10. Refer to Points 5 & 6, China says India cargo routes are already under pressure. They are also servicing previous orders from other countries. They can deliver the US orders via Japan or any other route, but it will have to wait for its turn.
11/16 https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202104/1222172.shtml
11/16 https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202104/1222172.shtml
11. Also, there could be a delay because China has its weeklong May Day holidays in the first week of May.
12/16 https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202104/1222172.shtml
12/16 https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202104/1222172.shtml
12. What does the US do? It plants its hitman @MukeshAghi of @USISPF to cry “China is halting US shipment carrying Covid-19 medical supplies to India.”
13/16 https://twitter.com/Geeta_Mohan/status/1387449048420937729
13/16 https://twitter.com/Geeta_Mohan/status/1387449048420937729
13. This is like hitting two birds with the same arrow. It will save the US the embarrassment of explaining why it is not delivering its promised aid to India soon enough. It will paint China in black, as always.
14/16
14/16
14. Indian media naively buys the allegations of the US (via @MukeshAghi) without even checking the facts from Chinese side. The media sells it as #ChinaDirtyTricks because it suits the anti-China confirmation bias and narrative. But is it really?
15/16 https://twitter.com/IndiaToday/status/1387446050441469953
15/16 https://twitter.com/IndiaToday/status/1387446050441469953
15. Now, do you understand what is really happening? This is a routine US playbook. Spin any story against an adversary - China, Russia, Iran, Syria etc - to suit its own narrative.
16/16 https://twitter.com/abhishekbhaya/status/1387475468484374531
16/16 https://twitter.com/abhishekbhaya/status/1387475468484374531
OK. I counted wrong. It's a 15-point explainer.
