India for further studies to trace origin of Covid

India for further studies to trace origin of Covid

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:29.05.2021 

In a significant statement that comes even as the border face-off with Chine remains unresolved, India called for further studies to determine the origin of the coronavirus causing Covid-19, days after US President Joe Biden gave his intelligence officials 90 days to probe the ‘lab-leak’ theory, much to the annoyance of Beijing.

China has angrily rebutted suggestions that the Covid pathogen escaped from a Wuhan lab but the theory has refused to die down with recent reports claiming that staff at the critical facility had fallen ill in November, 2019. There have been other reports that surfaced first in the Australian media that the Chinese military considered options of “weaponising” virus of the Covid family.

The Indian move will not go down well with China which has been suggesting that the border tensions be seen as only a part of the overall relationship. The decision is another indication that India is not willing to consider normalising of ties as long as the border tensions in Ladakh remain unresolved. The stagnation in the deinduction at friction points is read as China looking for some “gains” or a “face-saver” after the mutual withdrawals at Pangong Tso.

In a response to questions, MEA spokesperson said on Friday, “The WHOconvened global study on the origin of Covid-19 is an important first step. It stressed the need for next phase studies as also for further data and studies to reach robust conclusions. The follow-up of the WHO report and further studies deserve the understanding and cooperation of all.” Though he did not name China, the indication to India’s northern neighbour was obvious.

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The decision is another indication that India is not willing to consider normalising of ties as long as the border tensions in Ladakh remain unresolved