China, An Important Contributor in Fighting Against COVID-19

中国抗疫功不可没

By H.E. Dr.Zhao Yongchen, Chinese Ambassador to Grenada

驻格林纳达大使赵永琛

27 April 2020

2020年4月27日

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, the Chinese people have united as one, fully brought to bear the strengths of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, through tenacious efforts and enormous sacrifice, we achieved the initial stage victory against the epidemic. This not only effectively protects the safety and health of the Chinese people, but also greatly boosts the confidence of people around the world in overcoming the epidemic. China has played an indispensable and unparalleled role in safeguarding the lives and health of people around the world.

自从新冠肺炎病毒在武汉暴发以来，在中国共产党和中国政府坚强领导下，中国人民团结一心，发挥社会主义制度的巨大优势，展开顽强的斗争，付出巨大的牺牲，取得了抗击疫情阶段性胜利。这不仅有力地保护中国人民的生命安全和健康，也极大地鼓舞世界各国人民战胜疫情的信心。中国为保护世界各国人民的生命和健康所作的贡献是无与伦比的。

However, out of different motives and purposes, some Western politicians and media turn blind to the facts and constantly propagate false and irresponsible allegations. Not only schadenfreude at Chinese misfortunes, and portray China’s quarantine as a violation of human rights and freedoms. After China basically controlled the epidemic, Western politicians and media put forward unreasonable accusations and appeals. For example, some blamed China for concealing the early outbreak, which led to the miscalculation of the situation in the United States and Europe thus caused the epidemic spread around the world. Some claimed that China should be held accountable, even should compensate with purchased US Treasury bonds. Some accused China of hoarding medical resources and monopolizing relief supplies, resulting in the inability to meet the needs of the United States in fighting against epidemic. Some American lawyers even initiated legal proceedings, absurdly asking China to pay massive compensation. Some speculated that China would use its aid to increase international influence and promote Chinese model. Some rebuked that China’s aid had hidden motives and aimed to seize geopolitical interests. Different kinds of grotesque and absurd allegations emerge one after another. The only purpose is to shift the blame on their governments’ negligence to China. This political trick is full of insidious and ugly purposes, reflects some persons’ Extreme Populism and Racism, which must be firmly refuted and exposed.

但是，一些西方政客和媒体出于不同的动机和目的，不愿承认这些事实，反而不断变换手法，起初幸灾乐祸，落井下石，把中国苦难当作嘲笑中国的谈资；把中国隔离措施说成侵犯人权和自由；在中国基本控制疫情后，反过来抛出各种怪论，横加指责，提出毫无道理的诉求。诸如，有的谴责中国隐瞒早期疫情，导致美欧各国误判形势而致使疫情蔓延全球；有的声称在疫情过后要追究中国责任，甚至要让中国用购买的美国国债来赔偿；有的指责中国囤积医疗资源，垄断救援物资，造成无法满足美国抗疫需要；一些美国律师还发起或鼓动发起民事诉讼，荒谬要求中国支付天文数字的损害赔偿；有的揣测中国利用疫情援助提高国际影响力，推行中国模式；有的妄议中国援助有不可告人意图，旨在抢占地缘政治利益。种种奇谈怪论和荒唐做法层出不穷，搅动着国际舆论场，企图将本国政府疏忽大意、不作为而给本国人民带来巨大祸害的责任推卸给中国。这种嫁祸于人的政治伎俩凸显其政治上的阴险和丑恶，也反映出其极端民粹主义、种族主义的卑鄙无耻、自私自利，令人愤慨，必须坚决驳斥和揭露。

1. China has made tremendous sacrifices and contribution to the fight against the epidemic. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, in order to control the spread of epidemic and protect the safety and health of the people, the Chinese government has taken the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures, and quickly established the Central Leading Group on Responding to the Novel Coronavirus Disease Outbreak. The central government mobilized tens of thousands of doctors and nurses from all parts of the country to rush to Wuhan, Hubei Province to treat patients and save lives, and invested huge amount of manpower and material resources, built two hospitals with thousands of beds and a large number of Makeshift hospitals in just ten days. China made the momentous decision to suspend outbound travels from the city of Wuhan, and all citizens must be quarantined at home.

In accordance with the Emergency Response Law of the People’s Republic of China and the rules of the national emergency management, all schools, factories, shops, hotels, restaurants and public areas are required to shut down unconditionally to prevent and control the epidemic. Within just two months, China has taken a series of extraordinary and strict prevention and control measures to suspend business activities, and spared no effort to save lives. This directly caused hundreds of millions of economic losses. With the spirit of self-sacrifice, China has not only effectively protected the lives and health of the Chinese people, but also provided valuable experience and time window for other countries to prevent and combat epidemics. More importantly, China has severely controlled the flow of people, effectively reduced the spread of COVID-19 around the world, made great contribution to the prevention of pandemic worldwide. While continuing to control epidemic at home, China has shared its experience in epidemic prevention and control with other countries, and sent medical experts to some severely affected countries. So far, the Chinese government has provided over billions RMB worth of anti-epidemic supplies to 127 countries and some international organizations, including surgical masks, protective gears and testing reagents. The Chinese charities, enterprises, civil groups and even individuals donated medical supplies to countries in need. After the epidemic was basically controlled, the Chinese government urgently organized and coordinated enterprises to restart business activities, and mass-produced medical supplies such as masks, protective suits, ventilators, and medical instruments to provide various anti-epidemic materials to the international community, saved hundreds of millions of people’s lives. Upholding the vision of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind, China gives selfless assistance and support within its capacity, even to those countries which used to slander China. This is how China respects and protects human life, and concrete demonstration of China’s humanitarian spirit. The sacrifices and contributions of China has been widely recognized and highly praised by the international community. Those who accuse China of being nontransparent are unjust and insulting to the great sacrifices and contribution made by the Chinese people. The piratical act of treating a rescuer as an enemy is not only absurd, also ruthlessness. Neither Chinese people nor kind people around the world will agree.

一、中国抗击新冠疫情作出巨大牺牲和贡献，功不可没。自从新冠肺炎病毒爆发之后，为了控制病毒传播，保护人民生命安全和健康，中国政府采取最全面、最严格、最彻底的防控举措，迅速成立中央应对新冠肺炎疫情领导小组，做出强有力的果断部署，调动全国各地数万名医务人员紧急赶赴武汉和湖北各地，协助支援治病救人，动用大量的人力物力在短短十天内建起几千张床位的两座医院和大量的方仓医院，并决定对武汉封城，禁止人员流动，所有市民必须在家自我隔离。全国各地立即紧急行动起来，发布预警警报，按照突发事件应对法和国家应急预案，要求所有大中小学、工厂企业、商店、酒店、餐馆和公共馆所全部无条件关闭，停工停产，紧急投入防控疫情，治病救人。在短短的两个多月里，中国采取一系列超常规的严厉防控措施停工停产，不惜代价治病救人，直接带来了数以亿万计的经济损失。中国以自我牺牲的精神与新冠疫情作斗争，不仅有力地保护中国人民的生命和健康安全，也为世界各国提供了防疫抗疫的宝贵经验和时间窗口，更重要的还在于中国严厉控制人员流动，有效减少新冠病毒在世界各地传播，将病毒祸害减少到最低限度，直接为世界各国防疫做出了巨大的贡献。中国一边在国内抗疫，一边与世界各国分享防疫抗疫经验，派出医疗专家赶赴一些疫情严重的国家给予医疗帮助，给127个国家和一些国际组织援助数十亿元的口罩、检测仪器、试剂、医疗器械。中国慈善组织、机构、公司企业和个人给世界各国捐赠医疗救济物资。在疫情得到基本控制后，中国政府紧急组织、协调企业复工复产，大规模生产口罩、防护服、呼吸机、检测仪器等医疗用品，供应世界各国，为各国防疫抗疫提供不可缺少的帮助，挽救了数以亿计的民众生命。中国秉持人类命运共同体的理念，即使对那些污蔑中国和早期限制中国人入境的国家都不计前嫌，无私地给予力所能及的援助和支持。这是中国对人的生命的尊重和保护，是中国弘扬伟大的人道主义精神的具体体现。世卫组织和绝大多数国家的政府和人民都高度肯定中国所做出的牺牲和贡献。所以，任何抹煞、诋毁、污蔑、攻击中国为防疫抗疫的牺牲和贡献。那种把救命恩人当仇人的海盗式举动，不仅非常荒唐，而且非常无情无义。中国人民和世界各国善良的人民绝不答应。

2. China acts in accordance with the rules of reporting new virus in a reasonable and legal way. The so-called fallacy of China concealing the epidemic is a hot topic for some Western politicians and media. In fact, this is very nonobjective. According to the general rules of medical research, at the beginning of the discovery of any unknown virus, the novel coronavirus is a novel virus, which means it takes time for us to research and draw conclusions accordingly. The scientists have to research its pathology, nature, virulence, characteristics, virus formation mechanism, transmission forms, risk and harm before releasing relevant information to the public. This is a science-based process. Before reaching a scientific and accurate conclusion, no one can release information at will, so as not to cause panic among the public, cause social chaos, and impact the social and economic order. China’s early handling of this new virus was in full compliance with the world’s normal practice. On December 27, 2019, after the Wuhan Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in central China’s Hubei Province detected cases of pneumonia of unknown cause. The National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (NHC) made arrangements in the wee hours, sending a working group and an expert team to Wuhan to guide epidemic response and conduct on-site investigations. In a very short period of time, Chinese medical experts isolated the virus strains and determined its gene sequence after rigorous scientific analysis. On January 2, 2020, The Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences received the first batch of samples of four patients from Hubei Province and began pathogen identification. The NHC came up with a set of guidelines of early discovery, early diagnosis and early quarantine for the prevention and control of the viral pneumonia of unknown cause. As of January 3, China has been regularly informing the WHO, relevant countries and regions and China’s Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan about the pneumonia outbreak. China began to inform the United States of the pneumonia outbreak and response measures on a regular basis. On January 5, WHO released its first briefing on cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan China. Since then, in accordance with the provisions of the International Health Regulations, China has briefed the epidemic information to WHO every day, and notified the United States more than 30 times, also shared its experience in prevention and treatment with other countries without reservation. On January 22, Chinese President Xi Jinping talked over phone with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel respectively, informed the epidemic situation and proposed to work with the international community to effectively tackle the spread of the disease. The closure of Wuhan on January 24 was the most comprehensive and strict measure to warn the international community, COVID-19 virus is of great danger, if we do not take the strictest measures, it is not enough to control the spread of the virus or the outbreak. To control the epidemic. The information released by China is transparent, objective and comprehensive, what China has done is in full compliance with international law and domestic law in China, in line with the rule of law, many of which are well beyond what is required by the International Health Regulations and Recommendations of the WHO and set a good example for the world to handle major epidemic. China has neither subjective intentions to conceal the epidemic situation nor any fault to conceal the epidemic situation. No fault is no responsibility, which is the principle of the old Roman law. It is not China’s fault that the epidemic spread around the world, so there is no reason for China to be liable for damages.

二、中国依照新病毒报告法律制度办事，合理合法。所谓中国隐瞒疫情的谬论，是一些西方政客和媒体热衷的话题。实际上，这是非常不客观不真实的。按照医学研究通例，任何一种不明病毒发现之初，医学界和疾病控制部门都会非常谨慎地进行科学分析，尽可能搞清楚其病理、性质、毒性、特性、病毒形成机理、传播形式以及危险性和危害性，然后才能发布相关信息。在没有得出科学的准确判断结论之前，任何人都不能随意发布信息，以免引起社会公众的恐慌，造成社会混乱，冲击社会经济发展秩序。中国早期谨慎处理这个新病毒的做法，完全符合世界各国应对新病毒的惯例。2019年12月27日，湖北省武汉疾控中心检测发现不明原因的肺炎病例之后，国家卫生健康委员会立即派出专家组赶赴武汉，指导做好疫情处置工作，开展调查研究。在极短的时间内，中国医学专家经过严谨的科学分析，分离出毒株，测定其基因序列，2020年1月2日中国疾控中心、中国医学科学院对湖北送检的第一批4例病例标本开展病原体鉴定。国家卫生健康委员会制定《不明原因的病毒肺炎防止“三早”方案》。1月3日起，中国政府毫不延迟与世卫组织、有关国家和地区组织以及中国港澳台主动通报疫情信息。中国开始有关病毒情况通报美国疾病控制中心和有关国家卫生主管部门。1月5日，世卫组织首次向全球通报中国武汉出现的不明原因肺炎。此后，中国按照世卫组织《国际卫生条例》的规定，每天向世卫组织报告疫情信息，还30多次通报美国，毫无保留通世界各国分享防控治疗经验。国家主席习近平1月22日分别和法国总统马克龙和的德国总理默克尔通电话，通报疫情，提出开展抗议合作的倡议。1月24日武汉施行封城，更是以最全面最严格的举措警示国际社会：新冠肺炎病毒具有巨大危险性、危害性，如不采取最严格的措施，就不足于控制病毒的传播，不足于控制疫情。中国通报的所有数据都非常透明、客观、全面，所作所为完全遵守国际法和中国国内法，符合法治原则，超出世卫组织的标准，很好地履行了所有的国际义务，为世界各国树立了榜样。中国既不存在隐瞒疫情的主观故意，也不存在任何隐瞒疫情的过失。无过错即无责任。这是古老的罗马法原理。疫情蔓延全球不是中国的过错，妄图让中国承担损害赔偿是毫无理由和依据的。

3. China’s assistance to other countries in epidemic prevention and control is absolutely sincere. The Chinese people will never forget that the international community gave us valuable support and assistance since the epidemic break out. The Chinese nation is grateful and always reciprocates other’s kindness. While guarding the domestic defense against the pandemic, we are also doing our best to provide assistance to other countries in need. When people’s lives are at stake, nothing matters more than saving lives. COVID-19 epidemic is posing a grave threat to people’s safety and health. It is useless to argue over the merits of different social systems or models. Some Western politicians and media view China’s actions from the selfish perspective, ignore China’s sincere humanitarian assistance, and accuse China of using aid to make “political propaganda” and seek geopolitical interests. In fact, these politicians worried too much. China does have that many motives. It is very simple for us to do our very best to help countries and people in need, and work with the international community to save lives and safeguard public health.

三、中国援助各国防疫抗疫援助绝对真诚，妄加猜测是有害的。武汉爆发新冠肺炎疫情后，中国得到了世界许多国家的同情慰问、援助，让中国人民倍受感动。中华民族是一个知恩图报的民族，从古至今奉行大爱无疆的信念，深深铭记这份恩情。在中国基本控制疫情的同时，中国政府和人民以滴水之恩涌泉相报的精神回报世界各国，对那些给予中国援助的国家以数倍甚至数十倍的付出加以回报。中国人民将人的生命看得高于一切。面对肆虐全球的新冠疫情、祸害生灵的危机，中国义无反顾，超越意识形态、宗教信仰、经济利益考虑，对世界各国进行力所能及的帮助，其动机和目的完全就是为了帮助各国拯救受到疫情威胁的人的生命。一些西方政客和媒体从狭隘的自私的角度出发，带着有色眼镜看待中国所作所为，对中国真诚的人道主义援助视而不见听而不闻，污蔑中国利用援助扩大国际影响力，谋取地缘政治利益。其实，这些政客想多了，中国人还真的没有往这些方面想过、算计过，也没有任何动机和意图来追求这些虚无缥缈的幻象。中国的想法非常简单，就是治病救人。

4. Incitement to hatred and racial discrimination violated basic human rights values. US leaders stigmatized China by calling the novel coronavirus “China virus” or “Wuhan virus”. A few Western politicians have directly accused China of being the source of the novel coronavirus, openly stirring up a wave of hatred against China. Chinese Americans and expatriates from other Asian countries have been beaten, attacked and insulted from time to time. Racism and white supremacy populism around the world were detonated. Since the anti-colonialism and human rights protection movement in the 1960s, such evil behaviors that incite hatred and racial discrimination were quite rare. Some Western politicians talk all the time about protecting human rights, accuse the so-called human rights abuses in China, but now they engage in racial discrimination and hatred against China. Not mentioned they ignored the lives of their people, seized various excuses to disapprove, delay or hinder China’s aid or export of medical supplies. This is against humanity and should be held accountable and punished by law. As early as 1965, the United Nations adopted the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which explicitly requires States Parties shall assure to everyone within their jurisdiction effective protection and remedies, against any acts of racial discrimination which violate his human rights and fundamental freedoms contrary to the Convention, as well as the right to seek from such tribunals just and adequate reparation or satisfaction for any damage suffered as a result of such discrimination. The Chinese people reserve the right to pursue prosecutive actions and seek fair compensation for incitement to racial discrimination by some politicians in accordance with international law.

四、煽动仇恨中国，搞种族歧视，违背基本人权价值观。美国领导人一度将新冠病毒称为“中国病毒”、“武汉病毒”，对中国进行污名化。少数西方政客直接指控中国是新冠病毒源头，公然掀起仇恨中国的浪潮。美国华人华侨乃至其他亚洲国家的侨民不时受到殴打、袭击、谩骂和侮辱。全球各地种族主义、白人至上民粹主义被引爆。这种煽动仇恨、搞种族歧视的恶行是上个世纪60年代反殖民主义和人权保护运动以来所罕见。一些西方政客满口人权保护，对所谓中国侵犯人权口诛笔伐，如今反过来对中国搞种族歧视和仇恨。这是赤裸裸煽动种族仇恨和种族歧视、侵犯人权的举动。不仅如此，他们还不顾本国人民死活，采取各种借口，不批准、延迟或阻扰中国援助或出口医疗物资，延误拯救生命。联合国早在1965年就通过《消除一切形式种族歧视国际公约》，明确要求联合国会员国禁止任何种族歧视或任何煽动种族歧视的行为，授权受到歧视的任何个人可以对遭受歧视的任何损失向法庭请求得到公正充分的赔偿。中国人民保留依照国际法对美英澳政客煽动种族歧视的言行追诉、寻求公正赔偿的权利。

COVID-19 epidemic is a global public health crisis, the critical task for all countries is to unite, fight and defeat it together. We urge those politicians to get rid of the ideological and racist prejudices, view objectively the selfless contribution made by the Chinese people. Smear and stigmatization can never cover up the truth and blame-shifting will never cover up the truth that the spread of virus is due to inaction, every minute wasted on smearing would be better spent on enhancing domestic response. Only with solidarity, coordination and cooperation can the international community defeat the outbreak, safeguard the health and safety of all mankind, as well as save the world economy.

新冠疫情是人类面临的全球公共卫生危机，需要世界各国团结一起共同应对。希望那些对中国横挑鼻子竖挑眼的政客摘下有色眼镜，放弃意识形态和种族主义的偏见，正确看待、公正评价中国的牺牲和奉献，不要将新冠病毒扩散的黑锅甩给中国，不要将自己疏忽大意、不作为而导致疫情蔓延的责任归咎于中国，而要认真反思自己的过错，加以纠正。大家共同努力，应对危机，战胜疫情，拯救生命，拯救世界经济。