THE US accounts for around one-third of the world’s Covid-19 cases and more than one-fourth of the fatalities. The clamour for holding China accountable for the alleged cover-up that led to the global spread of the pandemic has been growing rapidly in America. US President Donald Trump’s tough talk on taking Beijing to task articulates not only the Americans’ rising animosity towards China but also his own re-election ambitions. Trump is finding himself under increasing pressure to walk the talk. Early this week, nine influential US senators introduced the ‘Covid-19 Accountability Act’ in the Congress, seeking to authorise the President to turn the screw on China through sanctions if the latter fails to provide a comprehensive account of the events leading up to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. On Thursday, another top US senator, Thom Tillis, unveiled an 18-point plan, including enhancing military-strategic ties with India, to put the Chinese government on the mat for its ‘mishandling’ of the Covid situation. His plan also seeks to investigate America’s reliance on China’s supply chains and threats to public safety and national security. What’s more, Republican attorneys general in 14 American states have asked the President to form a state-federal partnership to make China pay damages for the Covid disaster.

Not surprisingly, Trump’s own accountability is under scrutiny. Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and a former Vice President, is out to corner the President for a ‘catastrophic set of failures’ in his approach to China. The American citizenry is sharply divided over Trump’s handling of China. Considering the geopolitical ground realities, it will be tough for the US to wage a trade war on its own against another superpower.

America’s moves are being watched closely by India, which has its own battered economy to rebuild. With self-reliance being the new buzzword, New Delhi would be better off engaging with Washington. India would have to recalibrate its strategy time and again, depending on how and to what extent the US hurts China.

DISCLAIMER:

The views expressed in the Article above are Author’s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article.

Courtesy: Daily Tribune:  20th May, 2020