By Augustus K. Yeung
Introduction
More than two years ago, COVID-19 and its variants started to ravage across the world, leading to infections and death by the million; on February 14, conflict between Russia and Ukraine broke out, causing millions of refugees to cross borders into other parts of Europe. The conflicts in Eastern Europe have led to widespread sanctions, including finance, food security, energy supplies, etc., throwing the entire world into chaos.
When are all these problems going to end? No one knows.
This doesn't mean that nothing can be done; we should first start with the containment of COVID-19 and its variants. This is one world-wide issue that can pull different factions together to solve the same problem.
Who is going to take the lead? The United States of America and China
As it is, the U.S. has been a world leading nation in many areas, given its credit for ending World War II, beating the Nazi Germany in Europe and Imperial Japan in the Far East. The United States may have been beaten in Afghanistan, but given its large military complex, great wealth and decades-long of international relationships with many countries, it is the expected leading country to call a round table to discuss the issue pose by COVID-19 and its variants.
Why China and the US?
China's way of containing is controversial; however, it seems to be working effectively. Therefore, China can share its unique experience with America and other countries.
Chinese Scholars Signed Open Letter Calling on US and China to put an end to…
"A hundred Chinese scholars have signed an open letter calling on the United States and China to put an end to their political blame game and work together to fight the Covid-19 pandemic," the Post reported. ("Work together to beat Covid-19, Chinese scholars urge Beijing and Washington". SCMP. Saturday, April 4, 2020)
The signatories, who include former diplomats and academics from fields such as political science, sociology and international relations, said that while the origins of the virus remained unknown, hurling accusations achieve nothing but hurt.
Nations should stop "complaining, finger-pointing and blaming one another", and instead must cooperate to find a solution to the global public health crisis, they said.
"Political bickering does nothing to contribute to the healthy development of Sino-US relations, nor will it help the people of the world to rationally and accurately understand and cope with the pandemic," the scholars said in the letter, which was published on Thursday in online news magazine The Diplomat.
"As two of the great countries on Earth, cooperation between China and the US could, and should, be used to bring a more positive outcome for all humankind," it said.
The scholars also urged the two sides to put aside their bickering over where and how the disease originated.
"At this stage of the pandemic, the exact source and origin of COVID-19 remain undetermined, but these questions are unimportant, and finger-pointing is demeaning and hurtful to everyone," they said.
US and Chinese officials have sparred for weeks over the origins of the coronavirus. Former US president Donald Trump repeatedly referred to the pathogen as the "Chinese virus", while other American politicians said it was created in Chinese laboratory.
Former Chinese ambassador to the US, Cui Tiankai, had correctly said in an interview on American television that speculating about the origin of the virus was "harmful", and that fingering-pointing by both sides had plunged relations between the two countries to a new low.
The open letter was conceived by Wang Wen, executive dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University in Beijing.
"We did not criticize anyone in the letter, or mention any names. We did not want to fuel the current disputes and confrontations," he said. "Most Chinese intellectuals are peaceful, rational and constructive, and thankfully we quickly reached consensus on the content of the letter."
Significantly, the Chinese scholars said that after months of battling the coronavirus and seeing the situation at home improved, China now wanted to share its experience and knowledge with other countries as they seek to contain its spread.
Conclusion
Since the publication of this open letter, two years or more have passed, one raging conflict is wrecking havocs in Eastern Europe, and COVID-19 with its variants do not seem to be completely under control in many parts of the world.
The world since the oust of former Donald Trump has gone for the worst, with the United States pitching against China, even putting great pressure on New Zealand, a traditional American ally, whose sensible leader Jacinta Ardern is unfairly being perceived, blamed and labelled as siding with China, an unfortunate and unwilling Washington rival.
This is the time to call a conference on containing the pandemic, especially when Donald Trump, the former US president has first failed to unite America and the world through working a way out; and now if, Joe Biden, the incumbent president can call a world conference, and rally the support of President Xi of China and other countries; the weakening US president will be perceived as a supreme world leader – with China's support in the nick of time.
This is one ingenious way in which President Biden can beat his rival Donald Trump and stop him from taking part in the 2024 presidential race. Biden may even find a common ground between China and the United States, which can through this world conference on containing Covid-19, and eventually assume subtle world leadership.
The ripple effect may even further lead to Russia-Ukraine peace talks, brokered by U.S. and China, if necessary.
Anything to lose?
The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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