3 ms·

Why isn't this being called a humanitarian crisis by our illustrious Western leaders?

by nathanaldensr 5y ago

laverya 5y ago
Because "it's for covid", and our illustrious western leaders are either covid maximalists or focused on Ukraine.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
kube-system 5y ago
Some in the west certainly have labelled it that. There's quite a number of humanitarian crises going on at the moment, as have been over the past few years (and basically forever). Western leaders don't get up in the morning and recite lists of them.
- FpUser 5y ago
  >"Western leaders don't get up in the morning and recite lists of them." Well they should as they've caused quite a share of those crises.
StopDarkPattern 5y ago
duxup 5y ago
> an event or events that threaten the health, safety or wellbeing of a large group of people In a despotic country that could be a constant thing.
robonerd 5y ago
My guess is there's too much money on the table for those in the western establishment (corporate media and government) to call a spade a spade. If official criticism of China becomes too strong then the public might start asking for the sort of economic sanctions that would hurt western business interests as well. Basically, a manifestation of that old theory about international trade preempting wars.
- qsi 5y ago
  There have definitely been signs of serious disquiet amongst the western business community; earlier this month the European Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai sent an open letter saying in the usual diplomatese "this can't go on, it's a serious problem." [1] The Japanese did something similar. [2] This is not out of humanitarian interest. It's starting to affect business very significantly. [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/european-business-chamber-writes-chinas-state-council-challenges-covid-policy-2022-04-11/ https://www.reuters.com/world/china/european-business-chambe... [2] https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/04/16/business/japan-consul-shanghai-lockdowns/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/04/16/business/japan-...
- jollybean 5y ago
  No, the simpler answer is that lockdowns, especially in response to a pandemic, are possibly authoritarian but it's not a humanitarian crisis.
jollybean 5y ago
Because it's not a humanitarian crisis? It's one form of response to a deadly disease. If people were literally starving in the streets, then yes, but that's not what's happening. It's 'very authoritarian' - but we already all know that.
Closi 5y ago
The lockdowns might be useful from a strategic perspective for western leaders (ie undermining faith in Chinese leadership within Shanghai residents), while also actively calling it a humanitarian crisis would hurt the relationship with China which is already extremely fragile because of Russia/Ukraine (ie official criticism of the Chinese government may result in additional support for Russia).

Why isn't this being called a humanitarian crisis by our illustrious Western leaders?

laverya 5y ago

Because "it's for covid", and our illustrious western leaders are either covid maximalists or focused on Ukraine.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

kube-system 5y ago

Some in the west certainly have labelled it that. There's quite a number of humanitarian crises going on at the moment, as have been over the past few years (and basically forever). Western leaders don't get up in the morning and recite lists of them.

FpUser 5y ago
>"Western leaders don't get up in the morning and recite lists of them." Well they should as they've caused quite a share of those crises.

StopDarkPattern 5y ago

duxup 5y ago

> an event or events that threaten the health, safety or wellbeing of a large group of people In a despotic country that could be a constant thing.

robonerd 5y ago

My guess is there's too much money on the table for those in the western establishment (corporate media and government) to call a spade a spade. If official criticism of China becomes too strong then the public might start asking for the sort of economic sanctions that would hurt western business interests as well. Basically, a manifestation of that old theory about international trade preempting wars.

qsi 5y ago
There have definitely been signs of serious disquiet amongst the western business community; earlier this month the European Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai sent an open letter saying in the usual diplomatese "this can't go on, it's a serious problem." [1] The Japanese did something similar. [2] This is not out of humanitarian interest. It's starting to affect business very significantly. [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/european-business-chamber-writes-chinas-state-council-challenges-covid-policy-2022-04-11/ https://www.reuters.com/world/china/european-business-chambe... [2] https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/04/16/business/japan-consul-shanghai-lockdowns/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/04/16/business/japan-...
jollybean 5y ago
No, the simpler answer is that lockdowns, especially in response to a pandemic, are possibly authoritarian but it's not a humanitarian crisis.

jollybean 5y ago

Because it's not a humanitarian crisis? It's one form of response to a deadly disease. If people were literally starving in the streets, then yes, but that's not what's happening. It's 'very authoritarian' - but we already all know that.

Closi 5y ago

The lockdowns might be useful from a strategic perspective for western leaders (ie undermining faith in Chinese leadership within Shanghai residents), while also actively calling it a humanitarian crisis would hurt the relationship with China which is already extremely fragile because of Russia/Ukraine (ie official criticism of the Chinese government may result in additional support for Russia).