SARS as metaphor: a tale of two epidemics
Nike has contingency plans to move its production out of China. Motorola has restricted travel to affected areas, while Honda is moving the families of its expatriates out of China. Wal Mart has banned all travel to China. Cathay Pacific has been forced to ground much of its fleet due to rampant cancellations; other Asian airlines are affected. The tourist flow into East Asia, one of the region's major money earners, has been curtailed dramatically. The Canton Trade Fair, usually the single largest trade show in China, is effectively dead this year.
The chinese may value secrecy above the life of their citizens. But the Capitalist who trades with China values his life more than money.
Time has more news on the coverup happening in China.
Shanghai SARS Cases a State Secret
But party officials then cautioned that "Shanghai's SARS caseload was still a state secret," according to one journalist who attended the meeting. The state media was not to report any SARS statistics higher than the government-sanctioned figures, nor were Shanghai journalists allowed to interview any SARS patients or their families
Comments (9)
> But the Capitalist who trades with China values his life more than money.
I wonder if they're surprised because they believed that "The capitalist will sell you the very rope you intend to hang him with." (attributed to Lenin).
Posted by Andy Freeman | April 25, 2003 1:05 PM
Posted on April 25, 2003 13:05
Andy, Fortunately the Chinese do not control the media in rest of the world. Also, how long can you force 1 Billion people to supress information ?
Posted by JK | April 25, 2003 2:27 PM
Posted on April 25, 2003 14:27
The Chinese governments penchant for secrecy will backfire badly. Societies whose government suppresses information develop alternative routes for disseminating unofficial information. This is especially true in the internet age. Since these "grapevines" on steroids have no means of validation they also spread unsubstantiated and exaggerated rumor. Given the chinese peoples mistrust in their government these informal channels will make the SARS problem seem worse than it is. The internal repercussion could be severe especially if combined with an economic downturn.
Posted by Shannon Love | April 26, 2003 6:59 AM
Posted on April 26, 2003 06:59
Confront SARS, all Chinese have no choice but depending on their government,right? Just like Americans facing Iraqi war.
Posted by chineselady | May 2, 2003 3:37 AM
Posted on May 2, 2003 03:37
Consider about the worst condition: there were no Chinese government at all. Who can deal with the SARS? WHO? USA? UN? That would be the end of the world absolutely.
Posted by chineselady | May 2, 2003 3:44 AM
Posted on May 2, 2003 03:44
That would be the end of the world absolutely.
That would be the end of China. Not the world.
Posted by JK | May 2, 2003 9:00 AM
Posted on May 2, 2003 09:00
Chineselady, I have to take exception with your analogy - Americans I bet had a lot more information about the Iraqi war than China ever released to it's citizens. Not really the same situation.
Posted by Shanti | May 2, 2003 10:06 AM
Posted on May 2, 2003 10:06
What part of the economy has been infected mostly?
Posted by BulliesRus | June 26, 2003 3:09 PM
Posted on June 26, 2003 15:09
Mostly textiles and cycles were the deals that India got, which otherwise would have gone to China
Posted by JK | June 26, 2003 8:12 PM
Posted on June 26, 2003 20:12