China owes ‘apology and compensation’ for coronavirus, says cardinal

[ATraveller]

What I’m wondering - and the dust will need to settle somewhat - is if certain countries take retributive political & economic actions and then it leads to a worldwide domino effect of other places doing the same. This probably would turn into a very bad thing, but at the same time the world needs to realize that the PRC is extremely dangerous to human rights and human welfare and not just within China itself. A more formal response through the UN would be good but I have doubts about the ability of the UN to do any such thing.

This could be a start. I don’t think US$2.2 billion is enough. It’s a start.

Japan has earmarked $2.2 billion of its record economic stimulus package to help its manufacturers shift production out of China as the coronavirus disrupts supply chains between the major trading partners.

The extra budget, compiled to try to offset the devastating effects of the pandemic, includes 220 billion yen ($2 billion) for companies shifting production back to Japan and 23.5 billion yen for those seeking to move production to other countries, according to details of the plan posted online.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...o-fund-firms-to-shift-production-out-of-china

All of this should have started not with a pandemic but with the regime’s atrocious record on its treatment of people. Unfortunately, maximising profits is the most important thing for us in the West. Now we know that argument more trade will lead to a freer China is simply not true. It has actually empowered the communist regime and tightened its grip. This shift from Japan isn’t even about the treatment of people but on securing supplies.

 

[VonDerTann]

Know what? If your basic premise was/is that most governments don’t readily admit their foulups, I might agree with that.

I think there are some differences between communist and democratic nations. First is a matter of degree. My Lai involved several hundred citizens and did quickly come to light. Chernobyl involved Hundreds of thousands and even today I believe Russia admits to something like 48 deaths, as if all the resulting cancer patients had cancer from other sources.

Another is a culture that’s basically honest. If you’re a government used to a free press scrutinizing you, you will be more apt to behave honestly whether you’re scrutinized or not. By contrast if you know the press is an agent of your own party (i.e. Pravda) you have no reason to fear the press so you do as you like.