The U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. November 6, 2018.
Editor's note: David Lee is a Beijing-based consultant and author mainly writing about energy, health, international politics and international development. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.
The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has told the world many things, among which is the increasing American insecurity about losing its "benign hegemony" status as the world's only superpower failed to display any meaningful "leadership" since the coronavirus outbreak.
As a notable sign of the loss of confidence and morale, American "de-couplers" recently have called on Twitter to ban "Chinese government accounts" for disseminating "propaganda" and spreading misinformation about the novel coronavirus.
The push for outright removal of Chinese official content from Twitter has been led by two GOP legislators, who wrote a letter last Friday to the American social media platform.
Echoing this wry logic, other like-minded conservatives and "de-couplers" have been making unsubstantiated accusations that coordinated disinformation campaigns are being run by China, also involving Russia and Iran, to take advantage of the COVID-19 crisis.
First and foremost, China does not take advantage of the COVID-19 crisis. China is merely doing what is right: China is successfully defeating the viral outbreak within its borders while protecting its 1.4 billion population. China is taking meaningful measures that spearhead a global united front to take on the fight against the virus across the globe. China is sharing facts and telling the truth about the viral outbreak and its response measures.
That said, China is not taking advantage of the COVID-19 crisis to discredit anyone. Nevertheless, the global public health crisis does constitute a watershed of narrative strengths. Before and after the watershed, the posture of the American de-couplers' narrative about not only COVID-19 but also the overall global dynamics has followed a quickly declining trajectory.
The last batch of medical workers pose for a photo after walking out of the temporary hospital of Jianghan, in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, March 9, 2020. /Xinhua
The call to ban China's message on Twitter is an act of fear and cowardice. In the foreseeable future in the post-COVID world, such fear and cowardice on the part of the American de-couplers may well grow even stronger.
The following explains the reasons why:
The strength of the narrative, in the end, lies in the deeds, rather than the words. China is taking the global leadership role in coping with the COVID-19. The Chinese deeds are many and tangible, particularly including offering keenly needed materials and proven solutions.
Such heroic deeds are naturally reflected in the contemporary narrative about governance, international relations, and international cooperation.
In contrast, the United States has failed dismally to put up any resemblance of leadership during the course of the COVID-19 crisis. When it appears that China's deeds are so strong that it's impossible to shout down China's message, desperate American de-couplers try to shut down China's message by calling for an outright ban of social media accounts.
This ostrich strategy doesn't help when the United States fails to produce adequate response. In fact, it only makes American de-couplers look bad in front of the international community, which looks forward to coordinated action and is in no need of distracting, unsubstantiated accusations.
It must be noted, though, that the "de-coupling" campaign has been initiated and carried out by American conservatives all along. China has never chosen a path of "de-coupling" with one of its most important trade partners.
It must also be noted that China has dealt with tremendous challenges, including the current COVID-19 crisis, to benefit its own population and contribute to the community of shared future for humanity.
It's never been China's intention to make Americans, or rather the American de-couplers, feel fearful. The fear by the de-couplers is self-inflicted. Continuing to demonize rising China will not help overcome the fear; instead, the fear will grow.
Maybe the recent failure by the G7 grouping to produce a joint statement due to the American obsession with the "Wuhan virus" can ring another alarming bell.
In the end, when no one else in the international community is fearful of rising China, the American de-couplers may well feel really fearful of being left alone and isolated.
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