Calling COVID-19 the “Chinese Virus” is Groundless and Will be Cast aside by the World

What on earth is paramount when a pandemic is spreading? Instead of active response to the emergency, the incumbent US government turns to scapegoat China.

As early as a month ago, the WHO have clearly stated with some scientists that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is a common enemy of all human beings, and the disease it causes is a challenge confronting the whole world. The global scientific community has officially announced that COVID-19 is the name of the new coronavirus disease.

However, Washington outrageously called COVID-19 the “Chinese virus” to confuse the public opinion and scapegoat China without any ground. Their political hooliganism immediately aroused public indignation and was strongly criticized by netizens around the world, even the US netizens included.

“Viruses know no borders and they don’t care about your ethnicity, the color of your skin or how much money you have in the bank. So, it’s really important we be careful in the language we use lest it lead to the profiling of individuals associated with the virus,” Dr. Mike Ryan, the executive director of the WHO’s emergencies program, warned against calling COVID-19 the “Chinese virus.”

Some comments made by Americans strike home.

Microsoft’s co-founder Bill Gates said China’s quarantine efforts helped beat COVID-19, and made it clear that “people should not call this the ‘Chinese virus.’”

Hillary Clinton, the former US Secretary of State, saw through the intentions of some politicians in Washington to scapegoat China. “The president is turning to racist rhetoric to distract from his failures to take the coronavirus seriously early on, make tests widely available, and adequately prepare the country for a period of crisis,” she tweeted, adding: “Don’t fall for it. Don’t let your friends and family fall for it.”

That’s right. Politicians in Washington turned to racist remarks to divert people’s attention from the real issues: the US government’s failing to take COVID-19 seriously early, failing to test extensively, and failing to make preparations for the crisis. Washington does not have a proper attitude toward the epidemic, and it only keeps “bragging + downplaying the epidemic + blind optimism + scapegoating China”. At last, it is President Trump’s competitor who knows well his weakness.

During China’s prevention and control of the virus, a rumormongering campaign was also made by the Xinjiang separatists. As China is at the critical moment of fighting the epidemic, those Xinjiang separatists told to western media that China’s prevention measures in Xinjiang were not transparent and Uighurs were persecuted during the epidemic. A petition released on change.org by Munawawar Abdullah asked the Chinese government to close the Vocational Education and Training Centers in Xinjiang to stop the spread of COVID-19. He called on the WHO to send a delegation to assess the risk of coronavirus transmission and mass outbreaks and to report possible deaths.

Dolkun Isa, President of World Uighur Congress, also posted that “China should do everything in its power to prevent the spread of the Wuhan virus into any camps because the consequences will be catastrophic, resulting possibly in the deaths of tens of thousands of Uyghurs…”

Those attempts to undermine the counter-terrorism in Xinjiang during the epidemic are as despicable as the “Chinese virus”. In fact, Xinjiang has done a good job in controlling the epidemic and countering terrorism. During the outbreak, a total of 76 confirmed cases occurred in Xinjiang. Finally, 73 patients were cured, and 3 died. More importantly, no confirmed case has been found in Xinjiang for over 30 days in a row. As rigorous measures of prevention and control have been put in place in the Vocational Education Training Centers in Xinjiang, there is no such thing as “COVID-19 endangering the health of students in training center” as claimed by those Xinjiang separatists.

People will have their fair judgment on China’s response to the outbreak. More and more countries recognize China’s control practices and start learning from them. A phased victory in China is heartening for other countries currently in difficulty. Although China experienced setbacks in early stages, it is becoming a positive example. The outrageous defamation of China only comes from Washington and someone with ulterior motives.