According to the New York Times, the Central Intelligence Agency warned American officials months ago that the Chinese government was mostly likely misrepresenting the death toll associated with coronavirus which meant that any model based on Chinese data—which was the only data available at the time—was likely to be wrong. [1] Since that time, it has been confirmed that local Chinese officials suppressed doctors who were attempting to raise the alarm when the coronavirus began making its appearance in Wuhan. [2]
In Proverbs 14:34 it says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Although this wisdom literature was intended for the nation of Israel, it still holds true today. The nations of the world were ill-prepared to fight the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic because of the unscrupulous government of one particular nation. In the words of Proverbs, China’s leaders should face worldwide reproach.
To put it simply, China lied and people died.
Globalization is active commerce and open exchange of ideas between all nations. It has become the fashionable policy of Western nations, and it has also inadvertently exacerbated the current pandemic. Countries around the world have been slow to stop flights to China, perhaps due to the suppression of the true fatality rate of coronavirus. Cosmopolitan political correctness dictated that President Trump's attempt to end flights to China before the virus had spread to the United States was xenophobic. As The Atlantic said in response to President Trump's travel ban “He has long stoked fears that foreigners entering the United States bring disease. Now he may double down on xenophobic suspicions.” [3]
International trade is only mutually beneficial when nations are trustworthy. Unfortunately, China is not and never was worthy of the world's trust. In 2003, the Chinese government was accused of similar tactics when a doctor made a sworn statement that the numbers of individuals with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) far exceeded the official numbers being reported. The whistleblower stated that he believed suppressing the information was only going to lead to more deaths. [4]
Unfortunately, this is the price of globalization. Following a politically correct policy of globalization leads nations to trade indiscriminately, even trading with nations that have a history of deception. If nations are to trade, their interests should be aligned and their efforts made in good faith. In fact, the National Center for Biotechnology Information published a foreshadowing article in 2006 that noted globalization increases the risk of spreading pathogens across oceans. The article recommended that the best way to decrease that risk was for nations to be open and honest with each other about sharing information regarding outbreaks, however, it also noted that the lack of uniform government policies made global testing and recordkeeping standards highly variable. [5]
China’s corrupt government and its interests are not aligned with that of the world. Blind globalization needs to stop. Nations should begin to think carefully about which countries they choose as their trading partners. The United States should look to trade with honest governments, whose actions will not endanger the lives of Americans. In the book of Isaiah, the prophet records the judgment of God against the nations of Assyria, Philistia, Moab, Aram, Israel, Ethiopia, Egypt, Cush, Babylon, Edom, Arabia, Jerusalem, and Tyre. This judgment was based on their sinfulness and unrighteousness. God has not changed nor has his unwillingness to tolerate the immoral behavior of unbelieving nations. Similarly, the United States and other nations have a responsibility to their people not to tolerate any more of China’s recklessness.
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[1] Julian E. Barnes, “C.I.A. Hunts for Authentic Virus Totals in China, Dismissing Government Tallies,” New York Times (April 7, 2020), https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/us/politics/cia-coronavirus-china.html
[2] Robert Boxwell, “How China’s fake news machine is rewriting the history of Covid-19, even as the pandemic unfolds,“ Politico (April 4, 2020), https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/04/04/china-fake-news-coronavirus-164652
[3] Peter Nicholas, "The Coronavirus Outbreak Could Bring Out the Worst in Trump," The Atlantic (February 18, 2020), https://amp.theatlantic.com/amp/article/606610/s
[4] Mary Ann Benitez, “Beijing doctor alleges SARS cases cover-up in China,” The Lancet (April 19, 2003), https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(03)13095-4/fulltext
[5] Stacey Knobler, Adel Mahmoud, Stanley Lemon, and Leslie Pray, “The Impact of Globalization on Infectious Disease Emergence and Control: Exploring the Consequences and Opportunities: Workshop Summary,” NCBI (2006), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK56589/
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