Thanks for that post.
I know there’s a lot of cynicism on these threads, mostly predicting that once this crisis dies down, it will be business as usual with the Chicoms — that is, endless exploitation of Western nations desperate for cheap Chinese-manufactured junk.
The problem with seers, soothsayers, and readers of animal entrails is that all they usually can do is extrapolate from current trends.
But history always doesn’t move in predictable straight lines. No self-styled prophet can see the bends and forks in the road.
Could the West be at such a juncture with the Chicoms? I’m keeping up with the news and keeping my mind open.
I have been reading and watching a lot of foreign media regarding this crisis and there is a lot of anger towards China with very few defending them.
I think for the majority of the public in Western nations there is great anger towards China. Let’s face it.... how can you defend your actions when you cancel domestic travel from one of your own provinces, but fail to cancel international travel from the same province. This is a fact and one can only conclude that it was deliberate.
What it means in the long term is anybody’s best guess as you say, but I am optimistic that many more eyes have been opened and it will be harder for politicians in the West to keep their nose jammed up Xi’s bum.
It is going to take a very long time for the world to forget this virus and China’s role in allowing to to spread throughout the world. I might go as far as to say it will be a force that guides foreign policy towards China for the rest of our lifetimes.