It’s been three years since China grudgingly reported the first cases of Covid-19 from the mainland but did not hesitate to hide critical information from the world. Additionally, it also ensured that the WHO (World Health Organization) participated and partnered in its desperate attempt to cover up. The WHO at the behest of China on the 14th of January, 2020 dismissed all concerns and passed on a clean chit to China, that turned out to be critical in the later stages.
As countries across the globe fell victims to the Chinese origin virus, Beijing ever remained in denial mode and even engaged in furious and fake propaganda and later on ‘vaccine hostage diplomacy’ as if in a bid to compete and turn out as a saviour, when in fact, it was its deliberate and graitutous attempt to mask-up which led to the crisis in the first place. China’s Zero Covid policy which was drummed up as the perfect model for containing infections and Xi Jinping’s personal favourite turned out to be an utter fiasco. Not only are infections on the rise in China, but if it holds on, the worldwide impact will be severer.
China also failed in producing efficient vaccines unlike India and defied all assuages and recommendations to seek assistance from other nations. In a bid to showcase Chinese technological and political superiority, Xi Jinping’s dream of a Chinese century seems to be billowing in smoke due to his sheer arrogance and failed policies.
The current situation in China with censorship it is nearly impossible to procure exact figures and magnitude of the suffering public from China. However, there are reasonable estimates that it recorded around 37 million Covid-19 cases in a single day with a possibility of at least 60 per cent of its population having been infected. Although China is hiding figures, many reports suggest that it could be experiencing around 5000 deaths per day. Major hospitals and it’s health systems are said to have collapsed and that the doctors are feeling the over strain of working beyond normal schedule. Shortages of medicines, hoarding and scramble for beds has now become common there.
Even in major cities, medicines are being rationed that projects the pathetic state of affairs prevailing. The situation is so alarming and critical that even public places such as parks are turned into makeshift treatment centres. With ever mounting death toll, that China hides with ridiculous figures, crematoriums are functioning beyond capacity, adding to the emotional stress of families. There are reports of families cremating deceased members on their own, while parking lots, underground shelters and garages have been converted into morgues.
A Costly Blunder
While the Chinese origin virus affected every part of the world, leaving behind a trail of destruction, questions arise on the sudden eruption of pandemic infection in China, post-Zero Covid policy. The answers are not baffling at all and not far to seek. While the rest of the world dealt with the virus, shared information and assisted one another, China politicised its vaccines and assistance. Transition from periods of lockdowns to a relatively normal phase was somewhat smoother in other countries even when taking into account instances of demonstrations and strikes by citizens. China, on the other hand, exceeded on its authoritarian credentials. It not only enforced a strict Zero Covid policy which was more aimed at subverting public dissatisfaction rather than fighting the pandemic. Authorities fudged information, preferring to maintain its polished status globally, rather than focus on dealing with the pandemic effectively and zealously.
It pushed for Sinopharm and Sinovac, its much-touted home-grown vaccines to the point of even influencing the already tainted WHO and exported too. It must be recalled that the WHO displayed marked hesitancy in approving India’s Covaxin and Covishield whereas eagerness was displayed when it came to approving Chinese failed vaccines. The Chinese vaccines were driven by political considerations to the point of pushing other countries in adopting them, whereas India by its Vaccine Maitri scheme not only aided other nations in timely receiving vaccines, but did it without harping on political lines.
Xi Jinping’s directive to protect its citizens’ lives feasibly is juxtaposed with the refusal of Chinese authorities to publish daily cases. For an authoritarian and autocratic regime like China, its populace deaths are of least importance and fades away in front of its glitzy propaganda that it so meticulously but sheepishly puts up
India also came to the rescue of many countries such as Paraguay in South America in delivering vaccines, thus helping them against China’s vaccine-hostage diplomacy. While vaccination rates are low in China, due to the fear among many citizens propaganda notwithstanding about the efficacy of vaccines; India on the other hand vaccinated the entire population in a remarkable feat without any hassle. In addition to the duplicity of Chinese vaccines which can now be safely declared as probably the biggest scientific failure, its sudden lifting of restrictions led to the surge in infections. The Chinese state and its already strained health system was completely unprepared for this disaster.A repetition of 2019 Xi Jingping’s directive to protect lives feasibly is juxtaposed with the refusal of Chinese authorities to publish daily cases. For an authoritarian regime like China, death is of little importance and fades away in front of its glitzy propaganda that it so meticulously puts up. It has refused to learn from 2019 and is once again behaving irresponsibly. Similar to hiding facts which led to the pandemic, China is once more obfuscating figures and denying its failure. In a stark contrast to India’s approach when it sought aid and also responded in kind without politicizing it, China’s approach is to under-report cases and deaths and engage in brawls along the Sino-Indian border. Unfortunately, such senile attitude poses greater risks to the world.
Possible outcomes
Public anger against Chinese authorities is on the rise which may lead to certain political flare-ups. The Chinese economy may end up in shambles contributing further to anguish among the citizens. As the entire country struggles China may have to shed its polished image and seek help from the rest of the world. The futility of the Chinese vaccines confirms that in the scientific world it still needs a lot of honest research and Frank approach to catch up. As a word of caution, China must not turn the pandemic into an opportunity and should refrain from mocking other nations. It should learn from India and its humble approach or it will continue to eat the humble pie.
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