China’s latest COVID-19 lies fail to control its spread
China’s efforts to deflect blame for the COVID-19 crisis suggest that despite its best efforts to the contrary, the Chinese Communist Party has not managed to control its spread any more successfully than it has controlled the narrative around it, writes James Morrow.
Opinion
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News.
China’s efforts to deflect blame for the COVID-19 crisis has taken a new turn, with signs appearing at a Wuhan market warning visitors to wear masks to stop the spread of what they called “the American pneumonia virus”.
The signs, first flagged by Chinese YouTuber and writer Jennifer Zeng, read “In order to prevent American pneumonia virus from spreading among people again, according to instruction of the authorities, all ladies and gentlemen entering the market shall wear masks and have their temperatures taken.”
A Notice at a market in #Wuhan, calling the #COVID19 "American pneumonia virus"
— Jennifer Zeng 曾錚 (@jenniferatntd) May 2, 2020
"In order to prevent American pneumonia virus from spreading among people again, according to instructions of the authorities, all ladies and gentlemen entering the market shall wear a mask and... pic.twitter.com/euZYKoycxe
“Only 10 persons are allowed to enter at one time, and another 10 shall wait until the first group of 10 comes out. Otherwise, the market shall close and no longer provide supplies! Thank you for your co-operation”, the sign continued.
LATEST: US says ‘enormous evidence’ links COVID-19 to Wuhan lab
Soon after posting a picture of the sign Zeng, who has over 147,000 followers on Twitter, was inundated with responses from other Twitter users pointing out attempts by China to blame other countries, including France and Italy, for the virus.
Twitter user @shiroihamusan pointed out a recent report in the Chinese communist mouthpiece People’s Daily which suggested the French in some way bore responsibility for the virus.
As global pressure has mounted on the Chinese regimen to come clean and apologise for its mishandling of the coronavirus by downplaying its seriousness, cracking down on doctors who attempted raise the alarm (with many still missing), and allowing international flights to spread the virus around the world, Beijing’s propaganda efforts have only increased.
In March Zhao Lijian, a senior spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, took to Twitter to push the conspiracy theory that the virus was spread by Americans, demanding to know, ““When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? … What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US Army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation!”
2/2 CDC was caught on the spot. When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation! pic.twitter.com/vYNZRFPWo3
— Lijian Zhao èµµç«‹åš (@zlj517) March 12, 2020
The concerted push to shift blame for the coronavirus, which has so far claimed the lives of nearly a quarter-million people, appears to be a well-co-ordinated effort.
Over the weekend the Times of London reported on Beijing’s use of its diplomatic corps to aid its propaganda effort, noting a report in Global Times – one of the Chinese Communist Party’s most strident mouthpieces – proclaiming, Chinese people “are no longer satisfied with a flaccid diplomatic tone …the days when China can be put in a submissive position are long gone.”
Meanwhile the sign in Wuhan suggests that despite its best efforts to the contrary, the Chinese Communist Party has not managed to control COVID-19 any more successfully than it has controlled the narrative around it.