But other countries are already expressing their concern, including the US. At a press conference on Thursday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told journalists there were “clear implications for the global economy”.
“On all of those levels – a basic humanitarian level, the concern for everyone’s health, as well as for the global economy – it’s profoundly in our interest that China do what’s necessary to get ahead of this,” he said.
He said Washington, which is the largest donor of vaccines around the world, was prepared to support Beijing, before adding: “China has not asked for that help.”
Steve Tsang, an associate fellow and China expert at Chatham House, believes the chances of Xi accepting any form of help from the White House is zero.
To do so would be a tacit admission that China cannot handle the crisis itself – shattering the boastful narrative Xi…
