In an act of supreme bad taste and arrogance, China's communist party posted a composite image compared the launch of the Tianhe core module, part of a large new Chinese space station, with an image of the mass cremations that have come to symbolise India's devastating second wave of COVID-19.

"China lighting a fire versus India lighting a fire," an accompanying caption read.

The image was uploaded by the Chinese Communist Party's powerful Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission to Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter.

Thousands of Weibo users criticised the "inappropriate" post and it was deleted after about five hours.

"The majority of those who died were [from] the underclass in India, who suffered from the inaction of the Indian government," wrote Weibo user Laowujiadetianxin.

"India's people should be united."

Another Weibo User posted:

"Caption says “China firing up VS India firing up.” This is a Chinese govt Weibo account. The lack of basic decency is just unbelievable. Are some young bureaucrats managing the account? To what extent it reflects the mindset of the younger generation in the CCP?"

Tensions between China and India — the world's two most populous nations — have escalated over the past year, particularly in light of a border dispute in the Himalayas and amid upsurges in domestic nationalist sentiment.

Some Chinese netizens were less sympathetic, linking the COVID crisis in India to the border dispute.

"I have always felt that our country is too benevolent and kind to India," wrote another Weibo user.

"India does not know how to appreciate us."

India is suffering one of the world's worst coronavirus outbreaks, with around 20 million cases and more than 215,000 confirmed deaths. Experts say the real numbers of infections and deaths are likely five to 10 times higher.

Indian authorities reported 401,993 new cases on Saturday, the highest ever daily count globally. 

China, meanwhile, reported just 11 new cases across the entire mainland on Sunday.

Shen Yi, a prominent lecturer from Shanghai's Fudan University, praised the composite image posted by the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

"We should show our fury to India," Mr Shen wrote on the Weibo post.

Hu Xijin, the editor-in-chief of China's nationalist Global Times tabloid, disagreed.

Mr Hu argued that Chinese official media "should have showed sympathy to India".

"I don't think it is appropriate for an official account," he said.

China's ambassador to India, Sun Weidong, told Chinese state media that China had supplied more than 5,000 ventilators and 21,569 oxygen generators to India in recent months.

"As far as I know, Chinese companies have been accelerating production of at least 40,000 oxygen generators — orders placed by the Indian side, and they are working around the clock to deliver them as soon as possible," Mr Sun was quoted as saying.

"Many Chinese firms and private organisations are also using their own channels to provide various [forms of] help to India."

Story By | Max Walden | Bang Xiao