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> Yet, on the other side, you have high level Chinese government officials spreading completely unfounded theories that the virus originated in the U.S. I see
by DiogenesKynikos 7y ago
> Yet, on the other side, you have high level Chinese government officials spreading completely unfounded theories that the virus originated in the U.S.
I see very prominent American political figures giving interviews on national Cable news channels spreading the theory about the virus escaping from a Chinese lab.
> If the Chinese government continues to act this aggressively, it will stir up absolute rage in the minds of the American public against China, where now there is virtually none.
Most of the messaging the Chinese government puts out, especially in English, could not in any way be characterized as "aggressive." They've been putting out some interesting documentaries about the fight against the epidemic in Wuhan, as well as feel-good reports about the aid they're sending to foreign countries. I do see a lot of "aggressive" American rhetoric going in the other direction, however. Case in point: the way that high-ranking members of the Trump administration insist on referring to CoVID-19 as a "Chinese virus."
Beyond that, there's been a crazy amount of anti-Chinese sentiment stirred up in the US, ever since the beginning of the trade war.
- cameldrv 7y agoThere was an official statement that said that they could cut off pharmaceuticals and "Let America drown in the sea of Coronavirus." Seeing that statement changed my opinion of China.
- FooBarWidget 7y agoI am curious about the exact statement. Do you have a link?
- cameldrv 7y agohttp://www.xinhuanet.com/2020-03/04/c_1125660473.htm http://www.xinhuanet.com/2020-03/04/c_1125660473.htm
- FooBarWidget 7y agoThanks for the link. The statement is prepended by a big “if” though, and is not a declaration of something that will definitely happen. “If we refuse to give medication to the US then they will drown in a sea of coronavirus”. The statement is also preceded by complaints about how the US has been unfairly attacking China during the virus crisis. I understand that you are not happy about this “threat”, or even this “potential of retaliation”. My opinion though is that the US is not altogether innocent in this. It would be best for everyone if this trade war and this “maximum pressure on China” policy ends.
- cameldrv 7y agoThreatening to withhold medication during a pandemic that originated in China is beyond the pale. What precisely is the U.S. guilty of again?
- FooBarWidget 7y agoThis comment sums it up: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22611017 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22611017
- cameldrv 7y agoI don't agree with the Trump administration's tone, but factually, the virus is from China, specifically Wuhan. Many viruses, bacteria, and other diseases are named for their place of origin. Even if you don't believe that the virus came from the Wuhan lab, the other reasonable explanation is that it came from the human consumption of either a bat or a pangolin. The consumption of these animals was implicated in the outbreak of SARS, and China did not put a stop to the practice. Either way, the Chinese government bears significant responsibility for the situation we're in. So the Chinese response to referring to the virus by its place of origin is to threaten to withhold pharmaceuticals that potentially millions of lives depend on in the U.S. If "The Chinese people's feelings are hurt", we can no longer rely on them to do anything. In fact, if their feelings are hurt, they are prepared to kill millions of Americans as revenge. Obviously this is not a trading partner that can be relied on to provide anything more important than cheap plastic crap we buy at Wal-Mart.