Something quite remarkable happened on Monday. Communist China appeared to show a bit of humility.
Gathering via remote video, world leaders discussed the coronavirus pandemic at the World Health Organization’s annual summit. But there was a change in Xi Jinping’s language.
Xi’s propaganda lap dogs have spent the past few weeks screeching their fury over being held to account over their coronavirus actions, but Xi took a calmer tone on Monday. Despite still lying that China had done all it could to prevent the virus’s spread, Xi offered tentative support for an investigation into the WHO’s handling of the crisis.
But, Xi added, the investigation should not begin until the pandemic has passed.
As recently as last week, the Chinese had been threatening tariffs on any nation that pushed for an investigation. Beijing even cut meat imports from Australia over the latter’s support for a credible investigation into the coronavirus’s origins. And China was confident that its WHO ally would resist any significant international scrutiny. So what changed?
Well, infuriated by the social and economic chaos this virus has inflicted on their populations and by Beijing’s arrogant and deceptive response to their suffering, many governments are now adopting a tougher stance. The WHO meeting has forced Beijing to grapple with more than 100 nations that now support an investigation. Faced with that mass movement, Xi has judged that he needs to offer at least the pretense of an olive branch.
Don’t misunderstand the Chinese leader’s strategy here. This is isn’t about building a new relationship of transparency and trust with the world. It is about avoiding complete isolation.
As the influential Global Times showed with yet another ludicrous “America caused coronavirus” editorial on Monday, China hasn’t suddenly found responsibility. Indeed, China will sustain its hostile narrative toward Washington to undermine U.S. efforts to rally others in holding it to account. Xi’s fake olive branch to the world is only about buying time.
What Xi wants here is the political space to steal, bribe, and research its way to becoming the first nation with a credible vaccine. If Xi can get that victory, he feels he’ll be able to quell global anger with a new offer of much-needed Chinese support. Xi hopes such a success will allow China to return to his underlying global strategy: recentering the global economic and political order around Beijing and away from the existing liberal consensus. China’s new rhetoric is simply about buying time.
So, yes, we should expect more pleasant words from Beijing toward international organizations. But when it comes to the crunch, those words will be divorced from any significant positive action. As is always and ever the case with the Chinese Communist Party, it ultimately cares only about self-preservation.
