Chinese Social Media Influencer Huanqiu Baojie Comments On India's COVID Crisis: Is This What Happens When You Support America?

Chinese social media influencers are taking advantage of India's latest COVID crisis to drive a wedge between the U.S. and India. In a recent video posted on Haokan Video on April 29, 2021, Huanqiu Baojie ("Global Newspaper Big Sister") asked: "Is this what happens when you are pro-U.S.?" referring to the refusal of Western countries such as the U.S., U.K., and Australia to help India with vaccines in light of the current crisis in the country. She also asked Modi to think hard about "who his true friends are and who his friends should be."

Huanqiu Baojie: "A friend in need is a friend indeed; and in times of trouble, we see true hearts. I must say that this saying is really true. As the pandemic in India continues to escalate, the true face of countries such as the U.S. and the U.K. can no longer be hidden. When the pandemic in India is in a state of emergency and when the international community is rushing to help India with the emergency supplies, the U.S., the U.K., and Australia began to make sarcastic remarks. New Delhi first called on Biden to lift restrictions on the export of raw vaccine materials to India amid the outbreak crisis, but the White House refused, citing the priority of the U.S. to fight the pandemic at home. Subsequently, France, Germany, Russia and other countries lent a helping hand to India. Only under pressure did the U.S. agree to give aid to India. However, the White House said that it would only lift some of the restrictions on the export of raw materials for the vaccine, meaning that India would still be unable to produce a vaccine without a few ingredients.

"In addition, after the outbreak in India escalated, the Modi government asked U.S. social media platforms to remove negative comments about the pandemic, but the White House said on the 28th that India's move was not consistent with the U.S. view on freedom of speech. The implication is that the U.S. was against the move and is hinting that the media shouldn't remove negative comments about the pandemic as requested by the Modi government. This has to be asked: what exactly do you have in mind, the United States? Secondly, while the U.S. is not acting effectively, it provides a model for the U.K. to copy. On the 28th, British aid to fight the pandemic reached India, a total of 100 ventilators and 95 oxygen generators. On the same day, a British government spokesman said that the U.K. had no spare vaccines to send to India at present. As one of the European Troika, the U.K.'s actions did look petty and stingy, and the lack of 'spare' vaccines means that though Britain has it, it would give priority to its own countrymen, just as the U.S. said at the beginning.

"But perhaps more chilling to Mr. Modi than America or Britain is Australia. A recent article in the Australian media slammed the Modi government for bringing India into the apocalypse of COVID, sparking strong resentment in New Delhi. Public opinions in the two countries are still in a war of words. I have to say that when the U.S., India, Japan and Australia were engaged in the 'quadrilateral security dialogue', the U.S. and Australia were busy casting flirtatious glances at India. But now they have turned their backs on India, which is really a reflection of the fickleness of the world. Under such circumstances, should India continue to be pro-U.S. and help the U.S. and Europe in their so-called 'pivot to the Asia-Pacific' strategy? India really needs to think hard about it. Of course, after this round of adversity, Modi will have to know by now who his true friends are and who his friends should be. Well, that's the end of this episode of commentary, thanks for watching, please give a thumbs up, leave comments, share, and see you next time."