A social media post from a Chinese Communist Party account has sparked outrage after it appeared to ridicule India’s covid crisis. A photo of a rocket launch in China was posted alongside a photo of the bodies of Covid victims being cremated in India on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. On the photo, there was a text which read, “Lighting a fire in China Vs Lighting a fire in India.”
The article was removed after it was published on Saturday afternoon. An official Chinese law enforcement account allegedly posted it, the Communist Party’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which has millions of followers on Weibo, a prominent Chinese microblogging platform.
The Reactions
Users who commented on the article, which was later posted using screenshots of the original, called it “inappropriate” and suggested that China should show sympathy for India.
“Hold high the banner of humanitarianism at this time, show compassion for India, and firmly put Chinese society on a moral high ground,” wrote Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of China’s Global Times media outlet.
The Weibo post came a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping sent Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a message of condolences over the country’s escalating Covid-19 crisis. Mr. Xi said that China was willing to expand its cooperation with India and provide any additional assistance that was needed.
A devastating second wave of coronavirus is wreaking havoc in India, with hospitals scrambling to treat patients amid a chronic shortage of beds and medical oxygen. Meanwhile, India’s daily coronavirus death toll reached 3,689 on Sunday, the highest since the pandemic started.
It came a day after the country made history by being the first to register over 400,000 new cases in 24 hours. However, the Asian state is receiving humanitarian aid from the UK, World Health Organization, the United States, and many other states.
According to analysts, the new wave attacked when least expected; as such, India was not adequately prepared to handle the outbreak. The surging death rates were because of the limitation of oxygen cylinders. As known to many, COVID is a virus accompanied by breathing difficulties; hence external oxygen cylinders are vital for COVID patients in critical conditions.
Because of the severeness of the situation, many countries have halted movements to and from India. Meanwhile, states like Kenya were quick to transport their citizens who were caught up in the Asian state amid the pandemic. They ensured the new arrivals underwent coronavirus testing before being allowed to leave.
Judging from their expressions, they were excited to be back home, especially those who were on medical travel in India. Just like China and some of the once-hard-hit states, India remains optimistic it’s going to recover from the pandemic.
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