In an unusual diplomatic initiative, India has donated millions of doses of the British-developed AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine being produced in the country to neighboring South Asian nations.
The “vaccine diplomacy” aims to raise New Delhi’s global profile and push back against China, which has been expanding its influence in South Asia, analysts say.
“It’s about image and soft power.
Posted on January 22nd, 2021
Courtesy Adaderana
The Government of Sri Lanka has conveyed that approval was granted for the emergency use of COVISHIELD vaccines, says the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka.
In a tweet posted today (January 22), the High Commission said this clears the way to schedule the delivery of vaccines from India to the island nation.
Welcome emergency use approval of COVISHIELD vaccines by Government of Sri Lanka. This clears the way for scheduling delivery of the vaccine from #India to #lka. #VaccineMaitri #AffordableVaccine4All”
COVISHIELD is the local name for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine developed in the United Kingdom.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that development and construction in its own territory is beyond reproach . Chinese village in Arunachal Pradesh (Twitter: @detresfa) | Photo Credit: Twitter
Beijing: Amid furore in India over reports of construction of a Chinese village in Arunachal, Beijing has said that construction of village within its own territory is normal . The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that development and construction is beyond reproach .
This is not the first time China has exerted its claims on Arunachal Pradesh. Previously as well, China had issued stapled visas to residents of the region it refers to as South Tibet . As reported by Times Now, satellite images by a US-based imaging company Planet Labs had shown that China has constructed a village in Subansiri village of Arunachal Pradesh. Responding to the reports, the External Affairs Ministry had said that Beijing had undertaken such activities even in the past.
Countries all over the world have been gearing up to deal with the covid-19 epidemic spread all over the world. But there are still some countries that have not yet been able to manufacture their vaccine due to tight economic conditions. The same thing is happening to the country of India, which has not yet made its Covid-19 vaccine. India is going to play the role of firefighter once again for such countries.
As per the information received, the Government of India has already started supplying covid-19 vaccine from 20th January today under grant-in-aid to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar Seychelles. It has been revealed that the Government of India has 1 of its indigenous Covid-19 vaccine covishield. India has sent the first consignment of 5 lakh doses to Bhutan. The vaccine was sent from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Maharashtra to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan on Wednesday.