Coronavirus: can India stay focused as China, US set to clash at World Health Assembly?

As the new chair of the WHO’s executive board, New Delhi must keep politics out of the debate as nations gather to discuss ways to fight Covid-19, academics say

Calls for an investigation into coronavirus’ origins and Taiwan regaining WHO observer status among the hot topics at this week’s health meeting

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This year’s World Health Assembly convenes on Monday in Geneva. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:00pm, 17 May 2020Updated: 11:05pm, 17 May 2020

With China and the United States locked in conflict, tensions running high between Beijing and Taipei, and calls growing for an inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic, India is set for a baptism of fire as it takes up a new leadership role at the World Health Organisation (WHO) this week.

The South Asian nation will take over from Japan as chair of the WHO’s executive board at a shortened meeting of the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva on Monday and Tuesday. The sole focus of the meeting is the global health crisis caused by Covid-19.

The biggest challenge for New Delhi will be handling the expected fiery debates between China and Western countries on proposals to launch an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, and whether to allow Taiwan to regain its observer status at the WHA.

The self-ruled island is widely seen as having had great success in containing the coronavirus, which has infected more than 4.6 million people around the world and killed more than 310,000. Taiwan, which has a population of about 24 million, has reported just 440 infections and seven fatalities.

Taiwan has long campaigned to join the WHO, and has the backing of the US, European Union, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Between 2009 and 2016, it attended WHA meetings as an observer, without objection from Beijing, which considers the island part of its sovereign territory.