How the Coronavirus is Sparking Uprisings against the Chinese Government- Jack Maraziti
Throughout our history, the Chinese communist government has persistently dealt with issues of uprisings. Many of these mini revolts have been controlled with strict censorship and other skeptical methods of detainment. But, as over 2,000 people have died in China alone from the coronavirus, officials are enforcing mass quarantine zones, utilizing invasive technology, and censoring public outcries. Because of this, the coronavirus has re-invigorated the efforts of many activist groups against the Chinese government and caused great economic downfalls.
In an effort to decrease the spread of this contagious virus, the Chinese government is quarantining entire cities as well as enforcing roadblocks. This has a detrimental impact on the economy as valuable trade routes are lost and companies cannot import or export goods. Additionally, some companies are forced to quarantine their own workers as the virus can strike sick entire office buildings. While this can be a feasible option for e-companies, such as Amazon, factories can be devastated by these problems. The severity of these impacts have caused supplies from one of the largest manufacturer countries, China, to dwindle and disappear from shelves all over the world. An example of this can be found in the US drug industry. Due to travel bans, China is not able to send essential ingredients to America causing shortages on important medications. This includes medications for Tuberculosis, according to CBS news. Other implications for the US include that the downward trend of the stock market over the past several days. As companies throughout China are loosing up to 92% of their sales (auto industry) or billions of dollars, business leaders are starting to speak out despite the possible consequences from the government. James Liang, leader of China's Trip.com wrote, "Strike a balance that is conducive to protecting lives." Although this only a moderate response, it proves that businesses are growing anxious and starting to speak out against government policies in China.
China has also been applying controversial innovative technology such as drones in order to fight against the virus. Companies like MicroMultiCopter, based out of China, have released drones equipped with technology that allows the drones to pick out people in need of medical attention. Human rights activist groups around the world have long complained about China's facial ID recognition technology that scans over large crowds in order to identify criminals. Although this application of technology seems to have a beneficial effect for society, it is has created further human rights complaints. Despite there being no current human right violations reported with these drones, activists are still on edge about this new technology.
Finally, the most prevalent concern within this entire issue is the Chinese Government's control of the media. China has continually censored anything that could create a negative view of the country. This extends to comments about the severity of the coronavirus. The fight in the media against censorship of the coronavirus first began with Doctor Li Wenliang. According to the New York Times, Wenliang was one of the first doctors to warn the public about this upcoming epidemic. After trying to "raise alarm" and provide information to the public about this disease, Wenliang was promptly detained by police and later died from the virus himself. This sparked an entire group of people who are "fighting a war" against the censoring taking place in China. Common citizens are devoting their time to saving videos of quarantined coronavirus victims screaming for help, overcrowded hospitals, and diseased citizens being taken away. With these videos and information, some Chinese citizens are risking their lives by educating the rest of the world about what is really happening in China. One journalist, Chen Quishi, who entered a coronavirus hot zone of Wuhan, attempted to post videos to the world showing the events occurring in Wuhan. After several days, Quishi also disappeared. According to the New York Times, the government stated that Quishi was quarantined in an undisclosed location in which he could not be contacted by his family. Many citizens of China along with the rest of the world disagree with this lack of basic freedoms, and are continuing to fight back against the Chinese government.
The coronavirus has killed just over 2,000 people and infected many more. The more surprising fact is how diseases, such as the coronavirus, can have a much greater effect on world economics, government, and basic human rights than just health implications.
In an effort to decrease the spread of this contagious virus, the Chinese government is quarantining entire cities as well as enforcing roadblocks. This has a detrimental impact on the economy as valuable trade routes are lost and companies cannot import or export goods. Additionally, some companies are forced to quarantine their own workers as the virus can strike sick entire office buildings. While this can be a feasible option for e-companies, such as Amazon, factories can be devastated by these problems. The severity of these impacts have caused supplies from one of the largest manufacturer countries, China, to dwindle and disappear from shelves all over the world. An example of this can be found in the US drug industry. Due to travel bans, China is not able to send essential ingredients to America causing shortages on important medications. This includes medications for Tuberculosis, according to CBS news. Other implications for the US include that the downward trend of the stock market over the past several days. As companies throughout China are loosing up to 92% of their sales (auto industry) or billions of dollars, business leaders are starting to speak out despite the possible consequences from the government. James Liang, leader of China's Trip.com wrote, "Strike a balance that is conducive to protecting lives." Although this only a moderate response, it proves that businesses are growing anxious and starting to speak out against government policies in China.
China has also been applying controversial innovative technology such as drones in order to fight against the virus. Companies like MicroMultiCopter, based out of China, have released drones equipped with technology that allows the drones to pick out people in need of medical attention. Human rights activist groups around the world have long complained about China's facial ID recognition technology that scans over large crowds in order to identify criminals. Although this application of technology seems to have a beneficial effect for society, it is has created further human rights complaints. Despite there being no current human right violations reported with these drones, activists are still on edge about this new technology.
Finally, the most prevalent concern within this entire issue is the Chinese Government's control of the media. China has continually censored anything that could create a negative view of the country. This extends to comments about the severity of the coronavirus. The fight in the media against censorship of the coronavirus first began with Doctor Li Wenliang. According to the New York Times, Wenliang was one of the first doctors to warn the public about this upcoming epidemic. After trying to "raise alarm" and provide information to the public about this disease, Wenliang was promptly detained by police and later died from the virus himself. This sparked an entire group of people who are "fighting a war" against the censoring taking place in China. Common citizens are devoting their time to saving videos of quarantined coronavirus victims screaming for help, overcrowded hospitals, and diseased citizens being taken away. With these videos and information, some Chinese citizens are risking their lives by educating the rest of the world about what is really happening in China. One journalist, Chen Quishi, who entered a coronavirus hot zone of Wuhan, attempted to post videos to the world showing the events occurring in Wuhan. After several days, Quishi also disappeared. According to the New York Times, the government stated that Quishi was quarantined in an undisclosed location in which he could not be contacted by his family. Many citizens of China along with the rest of the world disagree with this lack of basic freedoms, and are continuing to fight back against the Chinese government.
The coronavirus has killed just over 2,000 people and infected many more. The more surprising fact is how diseases, such as the coronavirus, can have a much greater effect on world economics, government, and basic human rights than just health implications.
Caption:
A censored image of a diseased victim of the coronavirus.
Work Cited:
- https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/23/tech/china-tech-coronavirus-outbreak/index.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/asia/100000006970549/coronavirus-chinese-citizens.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/20/business/economy/china-economy-quarantine.html
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/02/09/chen-qiushi-coronavirus-wuhan/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/business/coronavirus-global-business.html
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-could-cause-drug-shortages-in-u-s-fda-warns/
Well written and very informative. I know many people who are older and take lots of medications who are very worried about this issue. It's scary.
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