The source of the new crown virus is still inconclusive, but some politicians in the United States have repeatedly stigmatized China, trying to divert attention, causing strong disgust and anger among netizens, and some Yale scholars said that this practice of inciting public opinion is typical xenophobia and racism.
The White House's rhythm of "throwing the pot" at China has aroused strong resentment among netizens
During the critical period when people around the world are fighting the epidemic together, US President Trump and some politicians have successively called the new crown virus the "Chinese virus" and imposed the birthplace of the virus on China.
On the 16th, Trump posted on social media that the United States will vigorously support those enterprises affected by the "Chinese virus".
On the 17th, when stocks plummeted and the United States was struggling to fight the epidemic, Trump threw the pot at China and once again publicly claimed that "new crown pneumonia" was "Chinese virus".
This groundless accusation, which has no scientific basis, has been rebuked by the public, but Trump continues to "throw dirty water.".
On the 18th, at the Press Conference at the White House to introduce the latest progress of the epidemic. A reporter asked Trump: "Are health officials wrong to describe the coronavirus as 'kung fu flu'?" Are you worried that the term "Chinese virus" puts Asian-Americans at risk of being attacked? Trump replied, "Not at all, and I think they'll probably agree with that one hundred percent." ”
In response to Trump's so-called "China virus" remarks, there have been many opposition voices in the international community, emphasizing that the new crown virus should not be associated with specific countries or regions.
At the regular press conference on new crown pneumonia held by the WHO on the 18th, Michael Ryan, head of the health emergency project, said that the virus has no borders and does not distinguish between racial color and wealth. The 2009 (H1N1) influenza pandemic began in North America, and we don't call it the North American flu. So when encountering other viruses, the same naming method is adopted. He called for a time when solidarity and cooperation are needed to fight the virus, not who to blame.
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New York State Democratic Congressman Meng Zhaowen wants politicians to take responsibility and not label the coronavirus. "WHO has guidelines for the naming of infectious diseases and cannot include geographical locations such as cities, countries, regions or continents," she said. ”
In response to questions from netizens on social networking sites, Bill Gates pointed out, "We shouldn't call it the Chinese virus." ”
Jenn Ketz, director of global health and AIDS policy, said: "As someone who has worked on AIDS for 30 years, I know how dangerous stigma is for public health. The same is true for COVID-19. ”
The racism and xenophobia provoked by this have also aroused criticism and dissatisfaction among netizens.
Some netizens retorted, "Trump's racist overtones are unmistakable. This is not the 'Chinese virus', this is a global epidemic. ”↓
Others shouted ,"You are the virus." ”↓
Some netizens lamented that "the subconscious guidance of the US president has put us on the dark road of hatred, which is a huge trouble for our country." ”↓
Netizen: "That's the new coronavirus, you racist." ”↓
Netizen: If he really seeks to use accurate words, shouldn't he use the official name, the new coronavirus (COVID-19)? ↓
White House official "labels" California lawmakers angrily exclaim: "This is habitual racism"
After Trump, a White House official called COVID-19 a "Kung-Flu" in front of Chinese-American journalists.
A Chinese-American reporter from THE US CBS tweeted, "On the morning of the 17th, a White House official called the new coronavirus 'Kung Fu Flu' in front of me. It made me wonder what they were calling it when I wasn't in front of them. ”
Rep. Eric Swarvell, from California, replied, "They're not serious. I'm sorry you've been treated like this. This is the usual racism. ”
Today, research on the origin of the new crown virus is underway and has not yet been conclusive. The World Health Organization has named COVID-19 the new crown pneumonia and opposes linking the virus to specific countries and regions. What good does this stigmatization of China, which is not recognized by the world, benefit the PROGRESS of the United States in the fight against the epidemic?
Scholar: Stigmatization is xenophobic and a great disregard for China's contribution
Mary Aita Watzger, a professor of pediatrics at Yale University School of Medicine, published an article on the official website of Yale University School of Medicine on the 12th, saying, "Calling the new coronavirus (COVID-19) 'Wuhan virus' or 'Chinese virus' is inaccurate and exclusive. Stigmatizing behavior can intentionally or unintentionally link diseases and people's prejudices, which may prevent patients from getting timely treatment and lead to infections in healthy people. ”
△ Yale University School of Medicine official website
Summers, a professor at Harvard University and former U.S. Treasury Secretary, said on the 17th that each country is engaged in its own "war against the epidemic" and should cooperate in the research of specific drugs and vaccines. It is important that China and the United States cooperate to resolve global issues. President Trump's stigmatization of the virus in China, exacerbating tensions in U.S.-China relations, is a great disregard for China's contribution to the outbreak. Today, when the epidemic is raging all over the world, mankind is a unified community of common destiny, rather than a solipsistic and lonely battle.
Executive Producer 丨 Wang Shanshan Zhang Ou
Producer 丨 Wang Wei
Editor-in-chief 丨 Li Ying
Editor丨Ni Zixuan Tang Pei Fan Jiachen Wang Xinran