China's attitude towards world hardened by COVID-19 criticism, says Misri
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that China felt stigmatised by the international community during the pandemic.
Speaking at the Iqwat Global Business Conclave in Mumbai on Saturday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that China developed a tough stance toward the international community because it felt blamed for the COVID-19 pandemic. According to The Hindu, Misri noted that this sense of being stigmatised led to a strict lockdown within China's borders.
Misri recalled his time as Ambassador to China, noting that the Galwan Valley confrontation in eastern Ladakh occurred during the height of the pandemic. He said the situation was complicated by COVID-19, which limited interactions and made understanding domestic views in China difficult.
The Foreign Secretary described travel as being extremely hard during that period. He said that flying out of China required a mandatory 21-day quarantine upon returning to Delhi.
Misri mentioned that while India did not point fingers at China regarding the pandemic, China felt the international community was intent on portraying it negatively. He said this resulted in a severe response toward the world and the implementation of heavy lockdowns on its own citizens.
Regarding Operation Sindoor, Misri said it was encouraging to see the government's agencies demonstrate real-time coordination. He also spoke about his Kashmiri Pandit roots, describing the community's resilience as a significant part of his journey.