China bashers ignorant of epidemiology

By Xin Qiang Source:Global Times Published: 2020/2/27 17:23:40


Photo: IC



As the world is being vigilant against the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), some countries are adopting strict response methods like those of China with WHO praising the country for its "only successful measures we have seen so far to contain COVID-19," yet some Western media are still busy finding fault with China.

The Atlantic published an article arguing Chinese leaders "have been blindsided" due to China's "authoritarianism" which led to the rapid spread of the virus. The National Interests went further, claiming China was "hiding the outbreak from its own people" and suggesting the country is "willing to put millions of its own citizens at risk of infection and death."

Similar arguments have been used constantly by Western media lately, yet they have unveiled nothing but at least their short of professional knowledge, or even ignorance.

Those media know little about China's decision-making process. The first doctor who rang the alarm bells of coronavirus in the epicenter Wuhan was Zhang Jixian, who reported the infection to higher authorities on December 26. On December 30, an urgent notice on the treatment of pneumonia of an unknown cause was issued by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission. On January 7, Chinese President Xi Jinping issued demands on work to prevent and control COVID-19. This can be argued as quick response.

Authors of those articles seem also ignorant of epidemiology. When a new virus debuts, it is hard for either doctors or governments to make major decisions before having enough information on how fast it spreads and how long the incubation period could be, which, until now, are still undefined. It is of course easy for some Western bystanders to make unscrupulous comments from a position of hindsight, or in other words, pretend to be wise after the event.

Wuhan was placed under lockdown only about a dozen days after January 7. Not long after, lockdown measures increased across Hubei Province. For a major city with a huge population of more than 11 million people like Wuhan, the decision did not come easily politically or economically.

This is a price China is willing to pay. The country has offered its experience to the world on how to fight the virus. From China's experience, other countries have witnessed how infectious COVID-19 can be and which measures are helpful.

Admittedly, flaws, including formalism, bureaucratism, inexperienced responses, and insufficient medical staff and hospitals, did exist in the early stages of China's epidemic prevention and control this time. Yet the so-called willingness to put millions of its own citizens at risk of infection is nonsense.

It is typical of some Western media, especially some US media, to ignore the good stories while having a dig at China's problems in a paranoid way. Apart from their ignorance, such tendency also stems from their prejudice and arrogance toward China.

Whatever problem emerges in China, they tend to attribute it simply to the country's system, suggesting that all challenges China is facing originate from its political system. It can also be proved by their narrative of a "humanitarian crisis" in Wuhan after the Chinese government imposed lockdown.

This is a tactic: Zooming in on temporary and partial issues to attack the entire Chinese governance system, in an attempt to support their political view - there are endless problems in China's governance system, which become exasperated during a crisis and more challenges emerge during the process of taking control of existing issues. Normally, the conclusion is that the system will fail in no time unless China adopts a Western political system.

Is the China in their reports the same one as in the eyes of Chinese people? It is believed the majority do not think so. For the moment, the priority is epidemic prevention and control. To achieve that goal, Chinese people have seen tremendous sacrifices made by the Chinese government and front-line medical staff and they are willing to endure a period of inconvenience in being limited in going out as usual. They are aware that this is a critical time to be concerned less about individuals and more about the common good.

As a major country, there is no need for China to be red with anger over others' criticism. As long as it resolves its own challenges well, the world will see.

An increasing number of countries are now learning from China's experience in the battle against the epidemic. Several towns in northern Italy have gone into lockdown after a spike in confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also suggests that the day may come where the US needs to shut down schools and close businesses to reduce the potential spread of the virus.

Every political system has its own advantages and disadvantages. But in the face of unknown virus, all countries are volatile. We shall show more sympathy and goodwill, instead of sneering or making groundless condemnation.

The author is deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn



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