Australia-led diplomatic campaign gained the support of 122-member nations, including India, to seek an ―impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation‖ into the origins of the coronavirus and WHO‘s response. While holding the demands over Taiwan‘s membership at bay, New Delhi joining forces with Canberra over the investigation into COVID-19 source is well- coordinated conscious cooperation against Beijing‘s recriminations and geo-economic coercions. Despite strengthening and institutionalising Indo-US cooperation through Indo-Pacific Core Group consultations during COVID-19 outbreak, India rebuffed US’ tougher language against China and the WHO. It reiterates New Delhi‘s strategic autonomy, which should clear China‘s suspicions over India‘s support for the investigation. India aims to strengthen WHO capabilities to bolster preparedness and prevent future pandemics by identifying the origins of the outbreak and the nature of spread.
Besides, India need not prove its resolve to stand against China just to appease the like-minded Indo-Pacific partners, including the US. New Delhi holds an exceptional record of challenging Beijing when its core interests are threatened. India is the first in the Indo-Pacific to oppose President Xi Jinping‘s flagship Belt and Road Initiative over sovereignty concerns. New Delhi also rejected the Beijing-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement. In both instances, the Indo-Pacific partners engaged with Beijing despite India‘s concerns.
Collective leadership for WHO reforms
India registered its regional leadership by initiating the SAARC virtual summit and projected global leadership as well by emphasising the need for a G-20 virtual summit to coordinate anti- COVID efforts. While diplomatic space for moderation has been shrinking, India has a greater responsibility to establish a conducive climate at WHO to build a global effort against the pandemic. Containing COVID-19 increases prospects to stabilise the global supply chains and rekindle the global economy. Such an attempt is reflected in Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s renewed engagement with the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit and highlighting ―a new template of globalisation based on fairness, equality, and humanity‖.
In its chair position, India shall prioritise WHO reforms proposed by Modi to contain future pandemics. Besides, the WHO may also require reforms, such as improving coordination between headquarters and ―uniquely independent‖ regional offices, and exercising legal authority by framing new regulations concerning global health. In addition to the composition of non- permanent members representing different regions, India should consider restructuring WHO’s Executive Body with most populous members and large economies as permanent members. Such renewed composition empowers the body to continuously monitor the WHO reforms and share critical information in real-time.
The collective leadership of like-minded Indo-Pacific partners and NAM – a group of 120- member states spread across Asia, Africa and Latin America – complements Indian efforts to pursue aforementioned WHO reforms. The collective leadership also promotes a multipolar world order and deter an evolving China-centric regional order, especially when President Trump terminated the US‘ relationship with WHO.
The above-mention three-pronged approach, is expected to help India establish conscious cooperation at the WHO to balance the US-China rivalry that possibly occupies the centre stage in all the future multilateral forums, including the WHA. Amid the G-2 rivalry, Indian leadership may identify a responsive space for cooperation that promotes global solidarity and resilience. New Delhi recognises cooperation with both the US and China as essential to reviving the global supply chains and international economy. India thus holds an opportunity at WHO to deliver responsible leadership in safeguarding lives and livelihoods for a shared future, further promoting New Delhi‘s leadership in post-COVID world order.
