I'm genuinely impressed by the generosity of the Chinese government. For the past year the internet has been saturated with the most vitriolic anti Chinese racism from India. Comments about China virus, bat soup, some of the worst slurs I've come across have all come the keyboards of Indians. I'm not surprised by American racism - they were founded on white supremacy and still have a cold war mentality against communism. Whats the story with Indians?
When China was at its peak of the epidemic, India used it as an opportunity to invade China. If I were a Chinese government official I'd find the decision to donate a single mask a very difficult one.
Realpolitik.
China's generosity acts as a gesture of good faith for those in India who would rather go back to a NAM and neutrality with China eg the Manmohan Singh/90s era India.
If something can be done to neutralise India as an anglo sepoy, then it should be done.
If however, it is determined that being a cuck for the anglos is a bipartisan issue, then all bets are off.
You saw this with the incoming biden administration, when it was clear that the china containment policy wasn't jut coming from the republican red guards like cotton and pompeo, but also done with the blessing of the deep state in the democrat party, then China would most certainly counter-attack.