By Ai Jun
Western media outlets have often used very different words to describe the similar measures carried out by different countries during the novel coronavirus epidemic. China’s decisive measures to “lock down” a city are described as “authoritarian” or a “violation” of human rights and even a “humanitarian disaster.” The similar steps taken by the Italian government are described as “the right thing to do.”
Some in the Western media are working hard to make distinctions between the two countries’ similar actions. Bloomberg argues the restrictions on travel in Italy are “far less strict than China’s.” The New York Times, simply changed its previous denigrating tone on China’s action, saying “the importance of the nation-state is suddenly obvious: Italians must decide for Italians.” The Guardian even articulated, “Despite these political tensions, it would be unfair to dismiss the work of the Italian authorities as a whole.”
The Western media’s ignorance and bias of China’s system have never appeared more obvious. For decades, the Western media have been trying to persuade their readers that Chinese people have no freedom or democracy, simply because China doesn’t adopt the Western-style electoral system.
These news outlets either have no idea, or refuse to admit, that China is pursuing a more substantial and efficient set of freedom and a democratic system that is designed to meet the needs of the people who most desire long-term peace, stability and development. The Western media are also refusing to acknowledge that the Chinese people are united in their fight against the virus, and believe in “one for all, all for one.” Chinese people are willing to endure a period of inconvenience and limits on their travel. They know these are necessary measures that will work, and they don’t feel like being subjected to a so-called autocracy.
Perhaps this isn’t ignorance or bias. Maybe the West is in the midst of an ideological crisis. The more effective China’s measures prove to be, the more other countries and regions will consider learning from China. This must have frightened the West, as it would overturn its self-perceived belief that the West is superior in every way.
Over the years, media outlets and politicians in Western countries have developed a trick to observe and analyze the situation in China. They find faults with the Chinese system and call any action the country takes “authoritarian.” Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, they have spared no effort to hunt for a scapegoat for their own deteriorating circumstances.
Given the different political systems, cultures, traditions and national conditions, it’s not possible for the US or Italy to exactly duplicate China’s methods in epidemic prevention and control.
It remains to be seen if European countries will cancel all soccer games. Will demonstrations be prohibited in Western countries during the epidemic?
It seems ridiculous to see that the Los Angeles Marathon was allowed to go ahead on Sunday with 27,000 runners panting and sweating in close proximity to one another.
The epidemic is a challenge for each country which has to confront the cost of carrying out major measures. Methods will differ and time will tell which is most effective. In the end, the government that can protect the lives and health of its own people will be seen as a good government. Its measures will become well-founded policies.
At this stage in the epidemic there is no point in arguing over the pros and cons of different systems. As late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping said, it doesn’t matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice.
–The Daily Mail-Global Times news exchange item
