The China Letter: February 19, 2020
COVID-19 is all over now
Experts are predicting the coronavirus will cost the U.S. travel industry more than $10 billion over the next four years, 38 per cent of S&P 500 member earnings calls in 2020 cited its effect, Apple’s stock had 34 per cent shaved off its stock market value after the tech giant warned of its impact, and the Chinese restaurants struggle all around.
A slump in the global goods trade is set to deepen due to the coronavirus, according to the WTO, which also said “every scenario is still on the table” when it comes to the epidemic’s evolution. There are also questions about whether the U.S. overreacted to the outbreak, even as 780 million people live under travel restrictions.
Truth and consequences
The confusingly conflicting reports about the death of Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan, China, were indicative of how much information about the spread of COVID-19 remains under state control. WHO have had to play a diplomatic balancing act amidst the apparent misinformation and accusations:
A speech published by Chinese state media indicated that president Xi Jinping was internally involved in the coronavirus response earlier than originally thought, two weeks before his first public comments. President Xi took call from Boris Johnson about the outbreak, as the British leader spoke of fighting it “shoulder to shoulder.”
HK can’t just wipe it away
While the police were on a roll towards solving the toilet paper caper, isolation of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong were found to be delayed, as tensions rise there in the wake of the outbreak. Expats who came to HK in pursuit of opportunity are now increasingly leaving, as the coronavirus coalesced with recent political unrest.
“War on Terror” exposed
A newly revealed database provides the fullest and most personal view into the Chinese crackdown that has locked away more than a million ethnic minorities. Uighur Muslims are the main ones being sent to internment camps, for reasons like beards, veils and internet browsing. China stands by its “people’s war on terror.”
Huawei remains unhappy
Nancy Pelosi joined Donald Trump in warning allies against “choosing autocracy over democracy” by giving a Chinese company the chance to direct traffic on the information highway. Huawei then accused the U.S. of hypocrisy given its own phone tapping past. But countries across Europe seem to be resisting American pressure.
The last words, for now
A woman who immigrated to Canada from China credits Alex Trebek with teaching her much of what she learned in English. Kristyna Ng came in second when she appeared on Jeopardy, but the Calgary woman still got the thrill of her lifetime:
