Opinion | China bashing detracts from the country’s epic and unprecedented battle against the coronavirus

Gloating, criticism and references to the ‘sick man of Asia’ are low blows when China has boldly mobilised the entire nation in a grand battle against a highly contagious disease, with stories of heroism in evidence everywhere

Reading Time:3 minutes

Published: 6:15am, 15 Feb 2020Updated: 6:42am, 15 Feb 2020

China’s whole-nation mobilisation to fight the coronavirus outbreak is unprecedented. To Chinese mainlanders, it is epic. But there is a tidal wave of China bashing even harder to contain than the virus, for how do you fight against those who derive a twisted pleasure from seeing China’s pain?

Among the first to gloat was US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who gleefully declared that he saw in the epidemic an opportunity to help accelerate the return of jobs to North America. As if these words were not insensitive enough, out came The Wall Street Journal with an op-ed piece titled: “China Is the Real Sick Man of Asia”.

This poke in the eye recalls the time when the Middle Kingdom was almost dismembered by foreign powers, including America. This low blow is unworthy of any global newspaper with a sliver of journalistic conscience.

Some British pundits, too, can barely conceal their delight at China’s misfortune, with the Financial Times editorialising that the outbreak challenges the basis of China’s social contract, that is, its legitimacy to govern. A Guardian op-ed casts doubt on the Chinese government’s ability to deal with the crisis. China bashers are having a field day indulging in their favourite sport.

But this gloating hides another side to the unfolding story that China bashers refuse to see: China’s whole-nation, whole-people resolve to contain the virus. Never before in human history has an entire country been put on a war footing just to fight a contagious disease.

World Health Organisation officials could hardly believe the boldness and power of China’s national mobilisation, locking down entire cities with populations of tens of millions, and building purpose-specific 1,000-bed hospitals complete with negative-pressure isolation wards in 10 days.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x