China Briefing | Coronavirus: China can turn the tables on the US with a science-led probe into Covid-19’s origins
- Such an investigation would not only debunk the conspiracy theories, but it would also boost China’s international standing
- It would also shine light on many unanswered questions – including some the Trump administration would rather ignore
The Chinese idiom Qiuhou Suanzhang harks back to ancient times when farmers settled their accounts and paid off creditors after their autumn harvests, but it has since evolved into a popular saying about settling scores after the dust settles on misfortune.
This is despite great debate over the origins of the disease and how the virus spread to the rest of the world.
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Beijing has responded furiously, accusing Washington of stigmatising China and claiming the Trump administration’s own early lapses and late response are responsible for the US having more than 1.2 million infections and more than 70,000 deaths, more than anywhere else. Worldwide, there have been more than a quarter of a million deaths and more than 3.6 million confirmed cases.
Beijing is at a distinct disadvantage in this blame game, not least because its propaganda lacks any credibility and is thus ineffective overseas. As the global backlash builds against China, the country faces the worst international environment since the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown.
