In the midst of the current time when the world is at the receiving end due to the ‘ruthless dictatorship’ of coronavirus and arriving at a clarity over what the future holds in terms of overcoming the pandemic is seemingly becoming harder, the 2-day virtual 73^rd session of the World Health Assembly, the WHO’s decision making arm which commenced on Monday is highly significant. The meeting’s main agenda was to adopt a resolution that would clear hurdles for a global investigation into the spread of the pandemic and the most important outcome is that, China which is the undoubted birthplace of the virus, under relentless international pressure, has finally agreed to the proposal and significantly,  India has been a mover too.

It must be vivid in everyone’s memory how lengthy the drama has been regarding ascertaining the identity of the nation who is the chief contributor of the menace that is now truly global. The US has openly blamed China for escalation of the crisis and even went to the extent in alleging that it's actually a fallout of their clandestine chemical warfare perusals. Though nothing has been proven over this particular blame as yet, it's a fact that China has earned the highest levels of disrepute in its history of global diplomacy and that feeling has only got stronger over the last six weeks in particular when deaths in thousands became a daily routine. This anti-China sentiment is clearly visible  as majority of the WHO countries including Russia, European and African countries joined the chorus for an independent evaluation of the truth behind this unprecedented catastrophe.

Tension  too have become voluminous  during the last few weeks particularly because of  China’s bitter opposition of the proposal to conduct an international probe into the pandemic’s origins, whereas  the international ‘consensus’ was that it can never be elsewhere except that particular wet market in Wuhan.  Doubts also grew regarding China’s officially disclosed death figures since its state-sponsored opacity has proved to be too impregnable to penetrate. But, it is a fact which  can hardly be discounted that a proper probe into the scientific events that led to the pandemic is highly important now since it will be a supplementing factor in developing the most sought-after medical solution the world needs now, which is the vaccine. This ‘background’, if not unveiled, will only prolong the efforts in finding the vaccine and the effect will be felt by the whole world.

But, there still remains a lot of apprehensions as to how much China will actually cooperate in the investigation to take it to the levels of truly honest and transparent. But, international pressure must be kept intact and India must not miss the opportunity to play a major role in this ‘taming the dragon’ game.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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