By Mai Phan
I. Introduction
The first quarter of 2020 has witnessed two concurrent battlefields, global efforts to fight COVID-19 and a diplomatic clash between the world’s two economic behemoths. Both are equally capricious and pernicious.
After ravaging Europe, the cost of downplaying COVID-19 has begun to wreak havoc on the U.S. economy and its healthcare system. As of March 30, there are 141,096 cases tested positive for the virus in the United States while the number is expected to continue climbing up in the next twenty-two to thirty-two days[1]. Having ignored early lessons from the outbreak in China as early as late January, the Trump administration is now garnering criticisms for its lethargic response, which will potentially channel the country down the same path as its European allies.
Importantly, when experts warned that the pandemic crisis calls for stronger cooperation, the Trump administration then decided to fire the first bullet against its Asian counterpart, worsening an already tattered Sino-America relationship. It is foreseeable that the Washington-Beijing blame game, at a time when cooperation is needed the most, will generate insurmountable impediments to the global fight against COVID-19.
II. The blame game
The diplomatic clash, in fact, roots back to early February when the Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece that labeled China “the sick man of Asia,” a sobriquet that infuriated Beijing. Immediately, Beijing responded with an announcement of expelling two American-nationals and one Australian journalist. [2]
A month later, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, disregarding pleas from Beijing and the World Health Organization (WHO) over the potential rise of racial discrimination from misuses of name, has repeatedly labeled COVID-19 the “Wuhan coronavirus” — a reference to the Chinese city that is the epicenter of the disease.[3] President Trump continues to dub COVID-19 the “Chinese virus,” resolutely defending his racist comment by claiming “it is not racist at all.”[4] Explaining for the term, Trump readdressed the origin of the virus, pointing to China as the birthplace of COVID-19.
The Chinese took great offense from the United States’ provocative words and fought back with their own harsh rhetoric. This month, Zhao Lijian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, pushed a conspiracy theory online that the U.S. Army might have brought the virus to Wuhan[5]. Moreover, the Chinese government spokesman further opined that it is the United States that lack transparency,[6] all while highlighting China’s herculean effort to contain the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, China’s state media has already ramped up machinations to burnish Xin Jinping’s leadership and brand the Asian nation as the new world leader following its swift handling of the outbreak domestically and efforts to contain the virus spread globally. Specifically, Italy is now key to China’s state media scheme. While the U.S. policymakers are still muddling in adopting a coherent strategy to cope with the impact of COVID-19, China has already sent teams of medical experts to Italy as the country reportedly turns corner in the fight against coronavirus. Additionally, Beijing has provided similar assistance to Iran and Iraq to contain the spread of the flu-like disease[7].
III. Assessment and conclusion
With the prospect of coronavirus escalation in the United States, it is reasonable to expect China might cooperate with the United States to help contain the virus spread. However, instead of following diplomatic decorum, the top American officials have chosen to escalate tensions, turning down their opportunity to prevent the United States from becoming the world’s new epicenter.
At the end of the day, COVID-19 has not only exposed weaknesses in the world’s readiness for a pandemic outbreak, but also cratered the already deteriorating Sino-American relationship. It is an urgent matter to put the health of civilians above political gamesmanship. As such, the two countries must together join in the global effort to fight against COVID-19 instead of digging into each other’s faults.
Mai Phan is the 2019-2020 Assistant Editor of the Sigma Iota Iota’s Online Journal. She is currently studying Global Studies and Political Science at Lebanon Valley College.
[1] “Top NYC Surgeon Warns Coronavirus Cases Could Overwhelm System - Business Insider.”
[2] “China Expels Three Wall Street Journal Reporters over ‘Racist’ Commentary as Media Becomes Latest Battleground in Rivalry with US | South China Morning Post.”
[3] “GOP Congressman’s Tweet Citing ‘Wuhan Virus’ Sparks Debate over Racism.”
[4] “Trump on ‘Chinese Virus’ Label: ‘It’s Not Racist at All’ - POLITICO.”
[5] “China Spins Tale That the U.S. Army Started the Coronavirus Epidemic - The New York Times.”
[6] “China Official Says U.S. Military May Have Brought COVID-19 to Wuhan | The Japan Times.”
[7] “China Sends Team of Medical Experts, Gear to Help Italy Fight Coronavirus | South China Morning Post.”
