The very least one could say about China’s actions and attitudes would be that they have been ambiguous and we are right to consider the possibility that this either started out or became during the process a weaponized attack on our prosperity and freedom in the western world.
The very least we should do in response is to place heavy import duties on Chinese goods as a partial recovery from the economic harm — I would personally favor a ban on imports altogether but perhaps that would harm economic interests within our countries, as they would be certain to retaliate in kind.
We should also play hard-ball on the cultural and sporting fronts, seek to ban China from all participation in the international community. Send their ambassadors home. Make it clear that we are fed up with their attitude and won’t be taking it lying down.
As to the numbers, they are almost certainly lying about their numbers. Why should anyone trust what they say? We can hardly trust our own democratic governments so that one, I don’t think so.
China is sort of like a giant Venezuela, only rich. The Chinese people are crushed under a totalitarian communist weight. The control which the CCP excerpts on its people is mind baffling.