Everyone knows about the mysterious case of pneumonia that originated in China’s Hubei Province and spread to all corners of the world. Indeed, the highly contagious properties of the coronavirus strain have made the current COVID-19 pandemic an unprecedented event in history. From Asia to Europe to North America, the number of known cases has soared rapidly, doubling every few days and ravaging healthcare facilities as well as economies. As it stands, more than 1,000,000 people worldwide are infected, and the global death toll stands at over 50,000. However, some things are looking up. Even though the number of known cases in countries such as Spain and the U.S. is continuing to grow, cases in other countries—notably China—appear to be leveling off. In fact, after reporting no new cases for the first time, China reopened some of its cities that were previously in lockdown. So how has China fared through these tough times, and how might it look upon the rest of the world in the near future?
Flattening the Curve
Over the course of three months, China reported distressingly large numbers of new cases on a daily basis, and the epidemic showed no signs of slowing within the country. After the initial quarantine of Wuhan, the city from which the virus originated, Chinese authorities went on to pursue aggressive social distancing measures, locking down cities and enforcing travel restrictions that brought the movement of Chinese citizens and foreigners alike to a halt.
China was also able to take control of its circumstances by implementing a system of widespread testing. By testing as many symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals as possible, China was able to not only contain its infections but also anticipate the development of new cases. This approach to disease surveillance is very different from what other countries like the U.S. are doing: rather than actively seeking out individuals to be tested, these countries wait for individuals to develop symptoms and then rush to treat them. It comes as no surprise that China is flattening its COVID-19 curve better than we are in the United States right now.
All In
China’s coronavirus narrative would be incomplete without making mention of its internal and external economic circumstances. Within the country, many employees are staying at home, unemployment has increased, and industries have suffered. Like many other countries, China is dealing with the burdens of a shrinking economy. What makes the Chinese economy’s circumstances unique, however, is that this is the first time in over forty years and the second time overall that the Chinese economy has diminished. Since China is a major player in the global economy, this has grave implications for global supply chains as well. China is encouraging employees to return to work and injecting billions of dollars into its economy to mitigate the economic downturn.
A Tale of Two Economies
Trump’s trade war with China is not making the situation any cleaner. With U.S. tariffs and Chinese retaliatory tariffs still in place, the two countries are stuck in an economic deadlock. Some experts say that this deadlock could be averted if these tariffs were simply lifted in the name of preserving the global economy amid a global health crisis. The two countries would then be forced to purchase each other’s exports, stimulating the global economy and mitigating the worldwide economic crisis. But so far, neither side is making any major concessions.
This period of global economic stagnation highlights growing power struggles between China and the United States. The U.S. has asked China for information on combating the epidemic, but China is concealing certain details about how it handled the crisis. China is prolifically supplying test kits to various European countries and sending public health workers abroad while the U.S. is struggling to supply its own hospitals and patients with desperately needed resources. As the U.S. diverts attention from global leadership to attend to its own circumstances, experts say, China is filling the partial power vacuum as an increasingly dominant world power.
China vs. World: A Battle of Morality
In late December of 2019, a Chinese doctor in Wuhan named Li Wenliang warned the country of the emergence of a potentially deadly strain of virus that causes symptoms similar to those of pneumonia. Chinese authorities silenced him. Two months later, after the virus ravaged the country, Li contracted coronavirus and passed away. China has since faced public condemnation for its authoritarian actions, and President Trump accused China of concealing information about the outbreak.
Liberal and conservative news sources have declared China responsible for losing control of the outbreak. But could it have been worse? Some experts argue so. When Doctor Li warned China of the coronavirus outbreak, the Chinese government was conducting studies of its own to confirm the virus’s existence, and its findings agreed with Li’s statement. Chinese authorities could have warned the public then. However, experts argue that it was crucial for China to first quarantine Wuhan before informing the public, as this would limit the virus’s spread. If China had not silenced Li, more citizens of Wuhan most likely would have fled the city before China could implement quarantines, and they could have unknowingly spread the virus even further. This would have led to disaster on an even more dire scale.
This question of China’s morality has mostly been tabled with the virus’s spread beyond China’s borders. As the virus’s epicenter moves west and China recovers, the question being raised now is whether China is to blame. That’s for world powers to decide.
Blame and Diplomacy
All of this economic and political chaos set in motion by COVID-19 has soured the China-U.S. relationship, arguably one of the most important in the world. While the coronavirus fire rages around the world, China and the U.S. are silently deciding how to direct blame toward one another. Chinese officials’ conspiracy theory that the U.S. first infected China, as well as Trump’s repeated use of the terms “Wuhan virus” and “Chinese virus,” are examples of this. But none of this is constructive in a time of crisis.
During these times, it is important to remember that the U.S. previously supplied aid to China when it needed it most to combat the coronavirus. Similarly, China has shared information regarding the virus’s gene sequence with the U.S. and provided much of its means of medical testing. All experts agree that together, China and the U.S. can extinguish the pandemic. Diplomacy, not blame, is what both countries need.
Where to Look Next
Currently, one of the biggest concerns in China is the possibility of a second wave of explosive infections. As China reopens cities and workplaces, experts worry that contact between individuals will bring on a resurgence of cases. Furthermore, some individuals in Wuhan who recovered from their coronavirus infections have once again tested positive for the virus. Will these individuals be protected by their immunity? Only time will tell.
In the near future, China can be expected to continue delivering aid to the rest of the world. Since the cost of medical supplies like antiviral N95 masks is expensive and in high demand in the U.S., Chinese manufacturers are and will continue to be crucial as the U.S. accumulates cases. Additionally, China is investing significantly in research to find a vaccine and antibodies to treat the coronavirus. If the U.S. and China put aside their differences and collaborate on the scientific front, the COVID-19 pandemic can be expected to be put to an end much more quickly and efficiently. Ultimately, the world’s fate during these tough times rests largely in China’s hands.
0
0
Average Rating