China stops cargo flights bringing supplies to India

China’s state-run Sichuan Airlines has suspended all its cargo flights to India for 15 days, causing major disruption to private traders’ efforts to procure the much-needed oxygen concentrators and other medical supplies from the country despite Beijing reiterating its readiness to help India to deal with the latest surge of Covid cases.

"China has been following closely the epidemic situation in India and expressed readiness early on to help curb the latest surge," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing here on Monday while answering questions, including the suspension of cargo flights by the Sichuan Airlines.

"At present, the two sides are communicating with one another," he said in the official transcript of comments posted on the foreign ministry's website. He, however, did not confirm a tweet by the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka stating that China began to supply oxygen concentrators to India.

"800 Oxygen Concentrators have been airlifted today from #Hongkong to #Delhi; 10,000 more in a week. #China is keeping in touch with #India for urgent needs,” said a tweet put out by the Chinese Embassy in Colombo. Asked for his reaction to the tweet, Wang said, "China is ready to provide necessary support and help to India in its fight against the new wave of infections. If India raises any specific demand, we will offer support and help to the best of our capability”.

About Chinese manufacturers hiking prices of the medical supplies to India, he said, "As far as I know, that's normal business interaction. We stand ready to offer support and assistance to the best of our capability if the Indian side informs us of its specific needs."

“China has been following closely the epidemic situation in India and expressed readiness early on to help curb the latest surge” China foreign ministry