COVID-19 and China

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

– Marie Curie

2020 has seen the spread of the Novel Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, first in China and then throughout the world. Millions of people have been infected and thousands have already lost their lives. This should be a time when all of humanity comes together to work together in a common cause. Unfortunately, we have not yet learned the lessons of the past, and fear and xenophobia have once again reared their ugly heads.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen an outpouring of hatred and misinformation against China and it’s people, which has also seen citizens of other countries with Asian ancestry suffer both verbal insults and physical abuse. Misinformation and rumors are rife on social media, and many Chinese citizens have complained that Western media reports are biased and unfair.

In this light, it is more important than ever to view China and it’s role in the COVID-19 crisis through as an objective a lens as possible. Yes, it’s true that the initial restrictions placed on information relating to the virus in China delayed global recognition of the threat, but China’s soon-after rapid mobilization to control the virus as well as its efforts to assist other countries have had an even greater impact. China’s successes should be recognized and applauded, just as its failures should be pointed out and critiqued.

To this end, I have published a number of YouTube vlogs and accompanying blog posts, and shared my experiences in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. I hope to let overseas audiences understand the real situation in China during COVID-19, as well as the real thoughts of the Chinese people, and allow people around the world to view China through an unbiased lens. If you’re interested in learning more, you can view new content and join the conversation via the below platforms: the China Culture Corner YouTube channel, individual blog posts, and conversations on Twitter.

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