This article is written by Abdul Rehman, retired brigadier, former commander of the 88th Infantry Brigade, Pakistan Army. At present he is a freelance writer, and the author of the Book China Chinami.

It is time; humans learn that natural calamities strike nations irrespective of their beliefs, race, color and do not recognize any distinction of size, wealth and civilization. However, violence and ferocity of natural disasters notwithstanding, outbreak of epidemics is a challenge of very different nature. The world is aware of their malice from medieval times, when despite very limited interaction among people they had been causing havoc along trade routes across continents and threatening existence of human race. Now in modern time, they spread very quickly and are even more deadly because millions of travelers rove all corners of the world. But even then people often tend to forget that, if an epidemic breaks out now, it is not a challenge to that country or region alone but to the entire humanity, battling which demands collective effort for preventing it spreading across borders and killing without impunity.

To forecast and estimate as to where a new epidemic will hit, applying any form of data or sample, China due to size of its population and vastness of territory seems their likely victim more than any other country. While tracing origin of SARS and now CORONA viruses in China, western media houses are all out to locate their causes in Chinese love for exotic food, for a variety of reasons; ranging from sex to general wellbeing and curing some complex ailments. Seeing the number of stories and the type of narratives being propagated it is evident that west wants to exploit the opportunity to defame China. That may not be wrong but more than any other argument mere size and geography of the country makes it more vulnerable in the future as well. However, evidences also approve that if China is relatively more exposed, it is better equipped than any other nation to handle them as well. Their heroics in the past aside, during present crisis instantly putting a mechanism of preventing virus from spreading to other regions and beyond own borders has once again proven their ability of quick assessment and capacity of accurate decisions.

In other parts of the world, no doubt transparent environment have appreciably improved governance, but at the same time, it has put leadership under lot of pressure. Resultantly, majority out of them in the face of challenges fail to take timely and balanced decisions. Often, not only they fail in difficult situations like outbreak of an epidemic and indulge in finding a politically correct decision but also waste precious time. On the other hand Chinese’ leadership approach, ranging from immediate measures of enforcing countrywide quarantine, during spring festival when the entire nation is on the move speaks volume about their farsightedness. Because, when Chinese move, it simply means many billions and not millions crisscrossing the country. Now in OBOR era, they have started traversing the globe and every major destination of the world has a large number of Chinese travelers.

Construction of mega hospitals for thousands of patients in hours than days at break neck speed where close to a hundred thousand patients are being treated, with daily new admissions just recently dropped from figure of two thousand. However, despite such prompt response, news of neglect of patients suffering from other diseases are surfacing in international media and stories of government officials’ slow response are bouncing on social networks as the world has zoomed in on the epicenter. On economic front, showing resolve to endure the losses by halting manufacturing sector is no less remarkable decision by China as well. As it is not only resulting losses in billions of dollars but Chinese adversaries instantly sprang into action as if they were waiting for the opportunity of running rumor mill at full capacity for propagating possible collapse of Chinese economy. They are churning loads of data for estimating possible delays and in some cases abandoning of projects under OBOR, such reports are in wide circulation by western media.Google News, one out of many online news agencies highly active in Pakistan is uploading reports on impact of virus on CPEC after very short intervals; seeing the trend it is evident, other partner countries are subjected to similar Anti-China campaign. Estimates of losses are being published for month long closure of businesses, failing to even know that outbreak of virus was reported during Spring Festival when nationwide vacations start; 15 days before and after the Chinese New Year celebrations. It is evident that their target is Chinese nation’s morale and partner countries confidence and hopes. President Trump’s appreciation of Xi Jinping’s efforts to control CORONA virus is visibly an effort to repair damages done by Commerce Secretary Wlibur Ross statement about epidemic’s positive impact on American economy speaks volume about their hostility.

Over the years, highly efficient system of near instant response to the peoples’ needs has established credibility due to which there is no panic and mistrust among the nation. Therefore, with confidence in leadership, despite knowing that the virus so far has no cure and can kill anyone effected, not only common people are volunteering for medical services, the entire nation is willingly following the guidelines issued by the central government. Leadership has also not indulged in giving false hopes; instead, people are being marshalled for fighting the epidemic in Chinese way. With leadership’s resolve and determination despite western propaganda nation is showing usual Chinese character and resolve. Some western observers were rather quick in predicting indifferent behavior of one child policy generation, but they too have proven no less resilient than their ancestors have been.

Analyzing different nations’ response while fighting epidemics, it is nightmarish to imagine the extent of damages if CORONA virus had struck someone other than Chinese. Outbreak of N1H1 in 2009 is just a decade old story and the way it was managed left many question on the capacity of USA, the most developed nation in the world. About 60 million people were affected, with close to 20 thousands deaths from a virus not as fatal as SARS and CORONA. These statistics cited by a Wisconsin study published in Journal of The American Medical Association in September 2010. Whereas, western analyst, government officials and policy makers are exploiting outbreak of epidemic, which is being managed very professionally, as an opportunity to satisfy xenophobia. They are criticizing Chinese leadership and political system even though World Health Organization has been compelled to praise their handling of a very complex situation, which could have risked the entire world. 

If prejudice can be put aside, rather than criticism world can learn loads of lessons from Chinese response and approach, which can be valuable for any such situation in the future. After the news of outbreak of a killer virus became public, I talked to government officials, some friends and got an opportunity to speak to a youngster. It was simply amazing to know their resolve, seriousness and confidence in the leadership. None talked about any conspiracy theory, neither there was a hint of charging anyone for a possible slackness. Despite some news surfacing here and there about possibility of a covert biological attack by some adversary, as the outbreak coincided with spring festival during which it would be simply impossible to implement control measures. In some circles, you can hear also the echo of the timing of the outbreak, as it coincides with China becoming world biggest economy overtaking USA. However, the Chinese people have made mature and calm response, focusing their attention on controlling the epidemic, rather than on spreading the conspiracy theories.

But, with near perfect response to CORONA threat once again Chinese have not been able to pay due attention to perception management and have left the field open to usual exploitation by the adversaries. Therefore, in an environment totally dominated by western media, the world has no option but to listen them. No wonder, there are abundant possibilities of mixing conspiracy theories for pursuing their Anti-China agendas. However, if Chinese have been able to read the script and variety of propaganda themes, they need to talk to the world and tell the real story how they are battling the crisis. Through this path, possibly present crisis will become opportunity to exhibit and showcase their resolve and determination. Enhanced interaction with the world will also enable China to recognize countries who have shown solidarity and are offering them unconditional support. Though, in prevailing environment winning worldwide trust may not be easy but highly responsible approach will help China earn confidence of a greater part of the world.