China emerges as global benefactor, sends medical aid and personnels abroad

Last updated on February 23rd, 2023 at 11:03 am

After overcoming health crisis at home, caused by the outbreak of coronavirus, China emerged as a global benefactor as it sends medical supplies, other aid and team of medical experts across the world.

“Now we see Chinese officials and state media claiming that China bought the world time to prepare for this pandemic,” said Natasha Kassam, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney and a former Australian diplomat.
Kassam added, “We know the propaganda machine within China is able to rewrite history but now we are seeing that replicated overseas. China’s victory over Covid-19 has already been written and authorities are trying very hard for that message to be received overseas.”

On Thursday, China celebrated victory in its the battle against the deadly virus as the country reported no new domestic cases for the first time since the pandemic outbreak. Coronavirus, which causes respiratory disease, emerged in Wuhan almost three months ago.

The National Health Commission said the rate of increase had slowed down and they expect declining trend to continue.
“We expect new cases will cease to appear in mid or late March,” said Li Lanjuan, director of China’s State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases.

Also Read:- “We are looking at sending checks to Americans immediately,” Mnuchin says

After controlling the pandemic at home front, China has come forwards to help other nations. “While making all-out efforts to combat it at home, China is actively engaging in international cooperation and providing as much help as possible to other countries and international organizations,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at media conference on Wednesday.

Geng said that China is sending health experts to Italy, Iran and Iraq, while medical supplies and other aid to countries across Europe and Africa.
On Wednesday, Li Keqiang, premier of China’s State Council, said that he spoke to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, offering all the possible help require to fight the deadly virus, along with pushing for trade agreements.

Last week, Italy’s foreign minister Luigi Di Maio shared a video of himself on social media watching live footage of a plane of supplies and medics from China. He acknowledged and appreciated China’s help. In a media conference, held this week, Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić said that he has full faith in his “brother and friend Xi Jinping”. He said: “The only country that can help us is China.”

The Chinese efforts of extending medical help invited both applause and criticism. Critics saw the distribution of medical aid across the world as a propaganda tool used by Beijing to established its supremacy over the world.