Forum Topic

China

It has been clear for some time that the Chinese Communist Party must take most of the blame for the pandemic and its devastating consequences.  Whether it started in a "wet market" or bio lab, the cover ups and silencing of whistle blowers delayed effective responses. Additionally, the Chinese government has a sorry record on human rights and does not comply with international rules regarding trade.What is to be done?Individually, should we boycott or avoid products from Chinese owned companies?Should the UK reconsider using Huawei for 5G infrastructure?Should the UK implement trade barriers level the trade playing field?Should the UK actively repatriate manufacturing industries?

Andy Riley ● 1912d7 Comments

Yes, I try my best but it's hard.YesDependsDepends

Mike Paterson ● 1888d

Personally, I find it hard to believe the British government much of the time, whatever its colour so have no issue with completely distrusting the Chinese authorities, particularly given their abysmal record of openness and suppression of dissent.As for boycotting their goods, that would be pretty difficult. They produce most of the things we buy, including components inside those products that they don't.The best way to go is to buy British as much as you can to try to help firms here to get back on their feet.This may mean buying less on line, which I think is a good move.

Keith Iddon ● 1889d

The thing is I cannot see the truth coming out in our lifetime.

Nicholas Beard ● 1890d

Interesting report here:https://uk.yahoo.com/news/satellite-images-packed-wuhan-hospitals-160744017.htmlEvidence points to the Chinese virus outbreak began earlier than December 2019.Apart from the issue of the CCP role in covering it up, this may support the idea that populations have greater immunity than initially thought, having been exposed earlier than assumed by the modelling.

Andy Riley ● 1890d

Too right Jim, apart from our lot here faffing around and dare I say it - lying - especially about care homes and their lack of PPE etc. Also let's not forget we also do business as a country with Saudi Arabia - hardly a beacon for human rights.Trump without a doubt is trying to deflect blame on to China in this an election year, to say his actions have been woeful and appalling would be kind, I doubt he'd know the truth if it bit him on his rather large a*se. But then the BBC interviewing Americans in a queue for food handouts found two who still thought Trump 'was doing his best' and as a businessman he knew what he was doing and they both said they'd vote for him - go figure! (As a journalist noted, the phrase 'They're doing their best' is something you hear at a fourth form footie match not something that applies to a bloody government!)Anyway the blame game won't solve what is still going on, we need to deal with the here and now and look at all this after the virus has calmed down, I think there is some sense in the view that it is something we may have to learn to live with. Hopefully the same won't be true of Bolsinaro, and the other would be dictators.

Vanessa Smith ● 1911d

Andy, I don't think that there's any doubt that China disguised what was happening. In January they lost 3 weeks of precious time and the silencing of Li Wenliang was a disgrace.However I would personally be very wary of laying the entire blame on China. After all, our own government was farting around, without any meaningful action, for at least 8 weeks. There is an element in this of trying to divert blame towards China to mask our own inadequate responses. One only has to listen to the likes of Donald Trump and Nigel Farage to detect this tactic (and I'm not suggesting for a moment that you share all or any of their views!).We could argue that a large part of the problem is down to globalisation and the multiplicity of international trade links, travel, and supply chains.Having said that, we hear that China is holding about 1 m. Uighurs in camps where coronavirus is rampant. Again, China is not alone in using the darkness of coronavirus as cover for nasty goings-on: Bolsanaro in Brazil, Orban in Hungary, Trump, Modi in India, Netanyahu in Israel. They are all playing variations of the same game.

Jim Storrar ● 1911d

Interesting to note BRITAIN may leave the EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

Nicholas Beard ● 1911d