I never imagined the scenario I described in my previous column "Virus fight offers cooperation opportunities" has become a reality so quickly. As the pandemic strikes the US, I sincerely hope Americans can keep safe, and the US government can attach the utmost importance to the outbreak. I now call on the entire world to unite.
Through tremendous sacrifices China has brought the coronavirus under control – the number of new daily cases being reduced from the peak of 3,887 on February 5 to 11 on March 13 (7 imported from outside China), a decline of 98.2 percent. In doing so, the Chinese authorities performed an enormous service not only to the Chinese people but also gave a crucial opportunity to the whole rest of the world to prepare.
Pakistan’s future is and will be dependent on export-led growth.The development of 10 special economic zones (SEZs) is vital to improve the capacity of the Pakistan export. SEZs are open for business people from all countries, as incentives under SEZs are the same for every investor. The investments in various sectors had started pouring in and the pace would pick up in the near future if Pakistani security situation would remain stable. The second phase of CPEC is about industrial and agricultural cooperation, so speed up SEZS is a must.
The Great Panic of 2020 is not the same as the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 (GFC) although some of the Great Panic collateral impacts will be similar. Governments are responding to the Great Panic as if it were a repeat of the GFC and these responses are most likely to be ineffective and may be more economically damaging than expected by supporting perverse outcomes.
We all face the same challenge. The fight and hopefully upcoming triumph over novel coronavirus pneumonia is a common topic in our conversations, our thoughts and our prayers. Both China and Israel are ancient civilizations, which have endured a lot through their long histories. However, as our past teaches us and as the saying goes, "If your mind is strong, all difficult things will become easy…" – the alternative is unacceptable!
However things develop, it is already clear that there can be no simple return to the status quo ante. Too much has already been revealed about the fragile nature of our health system and the fragile nature of our economic system based on the vagaries of that "bubble market" known as Wall Street. There will have to be a new order of things in the United States, one geared to the people's livelihood rather than the Dow Jones average. Coming out of such a major crisis, the American people will accept no less.
After the epidemic broke out in China, many countries and international organizations had expressed their support and provided substantial assistance. However, some Western media have looked on at China's misfortune with indifference and even taken pleasure in it. These infamous media outlets, however, instead of practicing "humanitarianism," which they always advocate, and offering a helping hand, scolded China with harsh words and little sympathy.
The virus is spreading worldwide. The number of new international confirmed cases per day has surpassed China at least 10 times. At this stage, the world needs unity. The US, as the world's most powerful country, should have called on other nations to help combat what has become a common enemy, just as they did during World War II. Unfortunately, they have made no such efforts. After observing the words and deeds of the US administration and other elites, I realized their accusations against China were aimed to divert attention, conceal inaction, and dodge long-standing flaws in US foreign policy.
Europe, after seeing a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases, faces a dilemma of containing the virus spread with strict measures while preventing an economic crisis as the region is on the edge of recession. The reluctance and hesitation of some European officials make a definitive and aggressive approach against the disease "hard to apply in the bloc," analysts said.
Last year, the Indian Navy blatantly expelled a Chinese scientific research vessel on the high seas near the Andaman Islands, and this year India created an excuse to seize the Da Cui Yun vessel. The Da Cui Yun incident has revealed the arrogance of the Indian government and its governing Hindu nationalists. To consolidate its supremacy in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, India not only has resorted to every means to discredit, isolate and crack down on Pakistan, but also has been trying to act as a "police officer" in the Indian Ocean.
The novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak in China has attracted unprecedented global attention because of the mounting worries regarding the unknown global challenges for humankind. It was very not very clear at the very beginning of the outbreak whether this unknown virus would be controllable due to the lack of information about the nature of the virus.
The sudden US Federal Reserve rate cut of 50 base points on March 3 was exceptional by any standard. It was not decided at its regular board meeting as the next one will be two weeks later. The urgent action was triggered only by Wall Street crash last week and the extreme pressure from President Donald Trump. FED rate cut shows little help to the fast spread of COVID-19 in US and even mislead the stock market. US President Trump’s effort may be a disaster to US future economy.
To observe a development model, one should look at not only its vision for the future, but also its inclusiveness and flexibility. The sustainability of a development model often lies in its openness and inclusiveness. Successful reform depends not only on local culture and traditions, but also on whether it can adapt to changes amid global competition. This may help us understand why the Trump administration is considering using a national disaster program to pay for treatment of uninsured patients infected with the coronavirus.
The coronavirus outbreak was a test of the effectiveness of the Chinese Government, so also will the coronavirus be a test of the US system of governance. And problems have already emerged. The initial batch of 200 virus test kits that the CDC had sent to labs were defective. The CDC had also restricted the target groups for testing to those who had recently traveled to China or their contacts. As a result, some people in California and Washington state who had some symptoms, didn't meet the CDC criteria for testing and weren't tested, and one of them has died.
The US Department of State announced Monday that Beijing’s state media entities operating in the US will be subjected to a 100-employee cap, restricting the organizations’ ability to produce content in the US and, as one expert tells Sputnik, the right to free speech.John Ross, a senior fellow at Chongyang Institute, Renmin University of China, and an award-winning resident columnist with several Chinese media organizations, joined Radio Sputnik’s Loud and Clear to discuss the Trump administration’s recent decision and give his opinion on why it came about.
Stung by the severity of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) outbreak, the Chinese government plans to bring in a biosecurity law and establish a legal system to secure national biosecurity by setting up a dedicated force of medical personnel trained in handling epidemics.
I do wish US elites would be more empathetic and far less hypocritical. They need to stop applying a double standard over the virtues of democracy, freedom and human rights which they have always respected. In the face of disasters, pandemics, and climate changes, no country or family can survive on its own - China, the US, and all other countries need to join hands and stop focusing only on their self-interests.
Since the second half of February, the novel coronavirus has been contained in China for the time being; however, it has spread across the world. The world is on high alert; the US stock market has plummeted and global markets are in a state of panic. The epidemic has spiralled out of control in Japan and South Korea, and lockdown measures have been imposed in European cities, increasing the likelihood of a global geopolitical crisis.
The US and the West have turned a blind eye to India's discriminatory policies and legislation. The brutal conflict that took place during Trump's trip to India should have attracted attention from the US and the West, but they stayed silent only because India is labeled a democracy. Asked by reporters, Trump said the protests were India's internal issue.
China's stock market staged a strong rebound from Friday's massive sell-offs on Monday, which experts said could herald global markets' recovery following last week's rout on rising COVID-19 epidemic fears. The experts predict that China's equities market, supported by the country's strong economic fundaments, may in the coming months act as a global capital market stabilizer.