Opinion | Why a coronavirus-fuelled revolution in China is unlikely, despite Western commentators’ fondest hopes
- Contrary to the Western media narrative, health professionals have praised the Chinese government’s response to the outbreak
- Despite some public anger, most Chinese people are pragmatic, support their political system and hope life returns to normal soon
It’s that time again when Western analysts, commentators and think tanks alike stare into their crystal balls and foretell widening cracks in the Chinese state. A pandemic of misinformation and ill-informed predictions is spreading online.
Look at Time’s latest cover, featuring Chinese President Xi Jinping wearing a face mask with the ominous title “China’s Test” or the conclusion of an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal: “don’t rule out a second Wuhan revolution”.
Melodramatic headlines and sensationalist reports are intended to damage China’s global image and spread scepticism of the nation’s future. We should refrain from judgment, rumour-mongering or damning long-term predictions and recognise that, when it comes to hardship, China tends to buckle down and deal with it.
This is not to say it was a perfect response. Dealing with a highly contagious new virus, at a time when many of China’s 1.4 billion people are on the move for the Lunar New Year holiday, was challenging. However, the reaction was faster and more stringent than during influenza outbreaks of the past.
