A system, no matter how perfect it may be, requires people to execute it. Only when they acquire basic knowledge can they make comprehensive decisions and reduce the possibility of negligence when similar crises arise. Even as they become more aware of their personal safety, managerial and grass-root level staff will have a heightened awareness of any emerging crisis, which will prompt them to make timely responses and ensure reporting procedures are followed smoothly.
What humanity now needs is not only a revolution in national governance capacity. We need transformation and adjustment of government behavior and local governance methods to deal with public health crises. We need to help more poverty-stricken areas to avoid becoming a hotbed of viruses. Moreover, we need a revolution in the concept and mind-set of global governance.
Countries have been upgrading their countermeasures to handle the onslaught, with different degrees of success. The main problem lies in the “disorder” and “fragmentation” of global governance. Countries have largely been working independently without proper coordination, or blending geopolitical considerations with their coronavirus response, lacking the spirit of mutual assistance as envisioned in China’s proposed “community with a shared future for mankind.”
Countries have been upgrading their countermeasures to handle the onslaught, with different degrees of success. The main problem lies in the “disorder” and “fragmentation” of global governance. Countries have largely been working independently without proper coordination, or blending geopolitical considerations with their coronavirus response, lacking the spirit of mutual assistance as envisioned in China’s proposed “community with a shared future for mankind.”
New viruses may develop. That is not in our power to prevent. But we can develop the ability and the means to tackle any new such threat if we build the international structures in which the world can act together and not behave as a house divided.
One hundred Chinese scholars published "An Open Letter to the People of the United States from 100 Chinese Scholars" in The Diplomat. It appeals for solidarity between China and the US and calls for an end to politicizing the pandemic and demonizing other countries. On Friday, more than 90 prominent figures in US security, diplomatic, business and academic circles also signed a letter calling on the Trump administration to work more closely with China to end the pandemic. The two letters echo each other. Officials and prominent figures from more than 20 countries have expressed their support for the Chinese scholars' letter seeking solidarity and stopping of the blame game.