World poised to benefit from reglobalization and China

January marked a turning point for Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland after three years of anti-pandemic measures. Though World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus decided COVID-19 still represents a public health emergency of international concern, the United Nations’ highest level of alert, he said he believed the pandemic to be at an inflection point requiring meticulous navigation back to normalcy.

The bulky description embodies much of the attitude that country leaders took to combat the then-deadly pathogen. Spirits were high — healthcare workers scrambled for protective gear; health organizations amassed drugs, oxygen and vaccines; international flights were suspended; global supply chains were severed. Telemedicine emerged as an alternative for patients beset by chronic illnesses to seek continuous medical treatment. Grocery deliveries flourished as a business while retail shops shut down. “Working from home” became a fad and remained relevant as households migrated en masse to suburban areas from metropolitan cities. Much has changed over the course of three years, perhaps more than one could imagine in a parallel universe free from the pandemic.

When the outbreak started in 2019, little was known of the pathogen and the damage it could inflict on mankind. To protect its citizens from the lethal original strain, China adopted painful measures at the expense of short-term economic growth, including leakproof control of its borders. Viral testing allowed officials to keep those who were vulnerable and most at risk away from active viral spreaders. Chinese people lauded the central government for its grit to break the vested interests of giant conglomerates by putting people’s lives above all else. Footage of the British and Italian health systems imploding terrified people abroad. Bitter scenes showed patients lying on mattresses on the floor because beds were fully occupied. Many of them were gasping helplessly because the supply of oxygen tanks had run out. Their effete response in mobilizing resources was in stark contrast with orderly controls in the East. While COVID-19 spread like wildfire, many countries in the West thought imposing tighter social restrictions was amiss. Like the pandemic, calls for expressing a broad sense of personal freedom even at a hefty social cost could not be tamed. Against this backdrop, the WHO put COVID-19 on a global emergency level. This was the first time China deviated from the domineering West.

The second time China rejected crowd-think was when countries reopened hastily last year. At that time, those advocating for normalcy prematurely cited omicron’s benignity compared with its ancestral strains. The death rate in the US abruptly reached new heights at about 4,000 deaths daily. Across the country, almost as many people died each day for two more months before the numbers fell suddenly. But in the face of inflation and pressure from giant conglomerates, the United States reopened its borders promptly. No country accused the US of exporting the newly evolved virus. Japan and Britain followed suit by reintroducing international flights, and both countries suffered heavy casualties. Global supply chains may prove harder to recover than tourist arrivals. Without China, supply-chain networks remain disjointed and insufficient to sate global demand. Even under overwhelming pressure from the Western alliances to reopen its borders, China dug in its heels to safeguard its people. And despite a score of swinging criticism coming from within and without, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government steadfastly implemented border controls.

With the benefit of hindsight, what was described by Western media as straightforward decisions with an “authoritarian” bent were essentially hard choices made by the central government before the event. Very low excess death rates in China proved the policies wise. As Hong Kong and the mainland reopen, the world should welcome such reopening. High vaccination rates and variants of a milder breed lessen the strain on health systems. Persistently low mortality is testimony that China has been managing the reopening well.

Hong Kong and mainland cities are jubilant. Despite and because of virtual lifestyles, people were hyped about reconnecting. Relatives hopped on futuristic express rail lines to travel across provinces for welcome reunions. In the mainland, 225 million passenger trips were made over the Spring Festival holiday alone — a record high since the pandemic. December saw 150,000 Hong Kong tourists in Japan, compared to only 6,000 for the rest of the year. International flights are picking up fast. Airlines are reporting manpower and flight shortages as inbound travelers and outbound tourists vie for tickets selling at three times the pre-pandemic prices.

Supply chains are reconnecting locally and abroad. Manufacturing and exports are picking up the slack. Red tape was starting to be cut as leaders convened at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos in January. Economists are convinced China’s economy will come roaring back. The geological advantage of owning some of the most prized rare earth metals commonly used in semiconductors and green energy will be helpful. The US, insecure about its leading role, is itching to hobble China on multiple fronts. Washington has openly laid out its strategies to contain China, especially in the technology realm. Having failed to prove that China unleashed the pathogen, the US spared little time accusing China of exporting variants — even the XBB. 1.5 subvariant originated in the state of New York. And because of that, a few countries enforced travel restrictions against Chinese tourists. Efforts to talk some sense of mutual benefit into US politicians will likely be in vain. It appears that friendly states in the Middle East and some parts of Europe may be willing to work on improving people’s lives more than tussling over ideological chasms.

Transitioning into the post-pandemic era, there is more reason than not to reject protectionism. China represents a vast land with abundant resources. A minority of countries may choose to isolate and ignore 1.4 billion people at their peril. But the rest of the world looks set to benefit from embracing globalization and the return of China.

The author is a member of China Retold, and a licensed medical doctor with a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University. He is also a member of the New People’s Party.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.