New Delhi: India’s foreign minister has taken a tough stance after China refused to allow a special flight to evacuate Indians from Wuhan, where the deadly COVID-19 infection began. Reports says that in response to the Chinese move the External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, placed some restriction to export medical equipment to China, which are in short supply there.
Surprisingly, China has allowed other countries the permission to evacuate their citizens by flight.
India said that the restrictions of medical equipment to China were placed in accordance with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) advisory.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said, “The precautions taken by India are in accordance with the WHO’s advisory about the outbreak of Coronavirus infection, which is a global public health emergency. Some restrictions have been imposed on export of certain medical equipment in view of the fact that these items are in short supply here too.”
However, China responded quickly by saying that WHO has not recommended or opposed any travel and trade restrictions.
The External Affairs Ministry have been actively evacuating Indian citizens from China, which every country are duty bound to do. India even offered to evacuate citizens of neighbouring countries from the infected areas of China on the same flight from India.
The Chinese move to restrict the evacuation of Indian citizens from its territory paved way for India to respond in a tough manner to get its citizens out of the communist country.
Spokesperson for the Home Ministry said, “We have also called upon the Chinese authorities to allow Indian citizens and those of our neighbouring countries to return by the same flight. We hope that they will give it positive consideration.”
