China Seeks to Recover Image After Virus Crisis

By Henry Srebrnik, [Moncton, N.B.] Times & Transcript

 

Having bungled its reaction at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, China is now hoping to build political ties around the world and defuse criticism that it allowed the disease to spread early on.  

Geopolitically, China’s move to brand itself as Europe’s savior aims to improve its standing on a global stage.

 “Now we see Chinese officials and state media claiming that it bought the world time to prepare for this pandemic,” remarked Natasha Kassam, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney.

While there is nothing wrong with China helping European and other countries, it is also clear that Beijing “sees its aid as a propaganda tool,” remarked Noah Barkin, senior visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund.

In the last few weeks, China has donated coronavirus testing kits to Cambodia, sent planeloads of ventilators, masks and doctors to Belgium, Italy and France, pledged to help the Philippines, Spain and other countries, and deployed medics and aid to Iraq and Iran.

One of the containers sent to Brussels was draped with the slogan “Unity makes strength” in French, Flemish and Chinese.

On March 12, one day before the World Health Organization announced that Europe had become the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of nine Chinese medical aid professionals arrived in Rome in response to the country’s “cries for help.”

Beijing sent an Air China flight carrying 1,000 ventilators, two million masks, 100,000 respirators, 20,000 protective suits, and 50,000 test kits.

“We are waves of the same sea, leaves of the same tree, flowers of the same garden,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang declared, referring to the aid.

 “This is what we call solidarity,” Foreign Affairs Minister Luigi Di Maio said. He posted a video of the plane of supplies and medics from China, noting that Beijing was the first to send aid.

In a phone call with Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte on March 20, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that he hoped to establish a “health silk road” as part as part of China’s global One belt, One Road Initiative.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi on March 16 pledged help for Spain. “As we are consolidating the achievements of battling the disease,” Yi told Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez, “we are also willing to provide necessary support based on the needs of other countries.”

A day later, an aircraft carrying medical aid from China’s Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and billionaire Jack Ma’s foundation arrived at Spain’s Zaragoza Airport.

Xi told the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, in a March 18 telephone call that he supports the measures taken by the Spanish government to contain the epidemic and understands the grim situation faced by Spain. He added that “sunshine comes after the storm,” and hoped that the two countries would step up cooperation and exchanges after the outbreak.

The Czech Republic’s president, Milos Zeman, also gladly accepted Beijing’s support. “This is China fulfilling its role as a responsible major country and the Chinese people making kind and selfless contribution to the global response,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said March 31.

 “We’re grateful for China’s support,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted on March 18.

“China’s experience is very valuable and can help Europe avoid detours,” Jean-Pierre Armand, an oncologist based in Paris, told reporters after a video conference with his Chinese peers on March 19.

On April 3, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell that China is more than willing to help the EU and its member states. Borrell responded that he appreciated China’s support. He added that China was pushing the message that, unlike the United States, “it is a responsible and reliable partner.”

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, complaining that the EU wouldn’t help his country, which is not a member, could not have been more explicit when declaring on March 16, “The only country that can help us is China. By now, you all understood that European solidarity does not exist. That was a fairy tale on paper.” He said he believes in his “brother and friend Xi Jinping.”

Beijing is now portraying itself as the world’s “Noah’s ark” and global saviour.