Made in China: Coronavirus Chaos Could Have Been Avoided | The National Interest
Given the absolute power of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Wuhan authorities have controlled the dissemination of information for the fear of possible impacts on social order and political stability. It was hardly a surprise, therefore, that the CPC has been willing to mortgage the health of its citizens during this coronavirus debacle for the preservation of the system.
Indeed, while China has responded faster to the coronavirus epidemic than its SARS outbreak in 2002 03, the CPC has overlooked the inherent failure in its system as the authorities have continued to silence and punish those who deviate from official orthodoxy and reality. Even with the lessons of the SARS disaster, demonstrating the need for greater openness and responsibility, China has committed the same mistakes while expecting a different outcome.
The CCP responded with ruthless repression of the truth and then ruthless repression of people when they could no longer hide the truth. The USA equally typically responded with a bunch of uncoordinated happy talk with a few wise voices drowned out because we’re a mess as a diverse, gigantic country led by the people you hated in high school. Only Singapore and South Korea seem to be responding well. There’s a lesson there if someone could figure out what it is.