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OpinionTo cope with the coronavirus outbreak, China needs less politics and more science
- Adopting a scientific approach in their daily lives would help the Chinese people better handle tests such as Sars and the novel coronavirus
- If this does not happen, China will continue to lack the stoicism and initiative it needs from all quarters to cope with crises
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As the novel coronavirus outbreak evolves into a large-scale public health crisis, the Chinese government has at all levels changed its previously passive stance and under-reporting. China has mobilised an unprecedented level of resources to battle the epidemic. From central to local governments, civilians to the military, and officials to the people, no stone has been left unturned.
Yet, Chinese society’s attitude towards the government’s efforts is startlingly divisive. On one hand, sceptics have finally found an opportunity to attack the system as though the virus would not exist and the outbreak would not spread if the system is changed. On the other hand, there are believers who extol the virtues of the great national system, which they view as the only force capable of stopping an outbreak of this scale.
Society at large attempts to grasp and understand the situation from various perspectives, expressing emotions of fear, despair, anger or sympathy through their points of view or prayers. These emotions are unavoidable yet reasonable in the face of disasters.
However, what is lacking among sceptics as well as believers of the system is a scientific approach. There exists a certain natural order in the origin and spread of the virus. The system and its ability to effectively prevent or curb the spread of the virus is of secondary importance. To eradicate the virus at its source, we must rely on scientific knowledge and a scientific way of life.
BLAMING THE SYSTEM
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