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China’s Xi attempts a coronavirus victory lap with visit to Wuhan China’s Xi attempts a coronavirus victory lap with visit to Wuhan
(32 minutes later)
Chinese leader Xi Jinping made a surprise visit Tuesday to Wuhan, the city where the coronavirus outbreak emerged, as part of a broader attempt to show that China had triumphed in its “war” against an epidemic now wreaking havoc around the world.Chinese leader Xi Jinping made a surprise visit Tuesday to Wuhan, the city where the coronavirus outbreak emerged, as part of a broader attempt to show that China had triumphed in its “war” against an epidemic now wreaking havoc around the world.
It was the first visit by Xi, China’s most powerful leader in decades, to the Hubei provincial capital since the outbreak began, and came after party organs ramped up propaganda touting the ruling Communist Party’s response to the virus. It was the first visit by Xi to the Hubei provincial capital since the outbreak began, and came after party organs ramped up propaganda touting the ruling Communist Party’s response to the virus.
“Xi Jinping has been concerned about the epidemic situation in Wuhan,” the official Xinhua News Agency wrote Tuesday, describing how Xi had “always personally directed” the response and that his “heart resonates” with the people. “Xi Jinping has been concerned about the epidemic situation in Wuhan,” the official Xinhua News Agency wrote Tuesday, describing how he had “always personally directed” the response and that his “heart resonates” with the people.
Swaths of Hubei province were locked down Jan. 23 as authorities tried to stop the virus from spreading. The restrictions became more draconian over recent weeks, with Wuhan residents banned from leaving their homes. Swaths of Hubei province were locked down Jan. 23 as authorities tried to stop the virus from spreading. As the restrictions became more draconian, Wuhan residents were banned from leaving their homes.
Downward trends in China’s official health statistics suggest that effort has been effective in limiting the virus, but not before it infected more than 80,000 people and killed 3,140 in China, mostly in Hubei, and spread to dozens of other countries. Downward trends in China’s epidemic statistics suggest that effort has been effective in limiting the virus, but not before it infected more than 80,000 people and killed 3,140 in China, mostly in Hubei, and spread to dozens of other countries.
Italy, South Korea and Iran have been especially hard-hit, with Italy enforcing a Chinese-style lockdown of the entire country. Global markets have tumbled to their lowest levels in a more than a decade, and economists are predicting a global recession. Italy, South Korea and Iran have been especially hard-hit, with Italy enforcing a Chinese-style lockdown nationwide. Global markets have tumbled to their lowest levels in a more than a decade, and economists are predicting a global recession.
But in China, none of this is being blamed on Communist leaders’ initially slow response to the outbreak. Experts say the epidemic would have been much more manageable if the authorities had responded in early January, when the outbreak’s severity became apparent, rather than toward the month’s end. But in China, none of this is being blamed on Communist leaders’ initially slow response to the outbreak. Experts say the epidemic would have been more manageable if the authorities had responded in early January, when the outbreak’s severity became clear, rather than toward the month’s end.
“In the past week the propaganda has really been ramping up, highlighting the dwindling new infections and contrasting that with the rising infection rate overseas,” said Yun Jiang, a former Australian government official who now co-edits the China Neican blog. “They’re trying to tell a positive story about China’s and the Communist Party’s management of the situation.”“In the past week the propaganda has really been ramping up, highlighting the dwindling new infections and contrasting that with the rising infection rate overseas,” said Yun Jiang, a former Australian government official who now co-edits the China Neican blog. “They’re trying to tell a positive story about China’s and the Communist Party’s management of the situation.”
Conspiracy theorists blame U.S. for coronavirus. China is happy to encourage them.Conspiracy theorists blame U.S. for coronavirus. China is happy to encourage them.
Bill Bishop, publisher of the influential Sinocism newsletter, had listed a Xi visit to Wuhan as one of three “unmistakable signs the party thinks victory really is at hand.” The other two were the announcement of a new date for the annual “Two Sessions” political meetings that were due to be held from March 5 but were postponed, and the reopening of schools that have been closed since early February. Bill Bishop, publisher of the influential Sinocism newsletter, had listed a Xi visit to Wuhan as one of three “unmistakable signs the party thinks victory really is at hand.” The other two were the announcement of a new date for the postponed “Two Sessions” political meetings, and the reopening of schools that have been closed since early February.
This effort to rewrite the narrative at home appears to be working in many cases, not least because the party tightly controls the Internet. Both Jiang and Bishop report family members in China telling them to go there because it was too dangerous in Australia and the United States, respectively.This effort to rewrite the narrative at home appears to be working in many cases, not least because the party tightly controls the Internet. Both Jiang and Bishop report family members in China telling them to go there because it was too dangerous in Australia and the United States, respectively.
“It’s time to ‘pick the peaches’ and prove to the world that China has effectively controlled the outbreak,” said Zhang Lifan, an independent historian in Beijing, describing a new phase in the party’s telling of its virus story. “Now the overall publicity strategy is … to promote China as the global leader in fighting against the epidemic.”“It’s time to ‘pick the peaches’ and prove to the world that China has effectively controlled the outbreak,” said Zhang Lifan, an independent historian in Beijing, describing a new phase in the party’s telling of its virus story. “Now the overall publicity strategy is … to promote China as the global leader in fighting against the epidemic.”
Only 19 new cases of coronavirus were reported in China on Tuesday, 17 of them in Hubei. State media has featured numerous reports recently about “cabin hospitals” — the quarantine centers built in stadiums to isolate the infected — closing because they are no longer needed, and of the heroic sacrifices of medical staff. China reported only 19 new cases of coronavirus Tuesday, 17 of them in Hubei. State media has featured numerous recent reports about “cabin hospitals” — quarantine centers built in stadiums to isolate the infected — closing because they are no longer needed, and of the heroic sacrifices of medical staff.
Airwaves and newspaper pages have been blanketed with reports about how Xi was directing the response by presiding over meetings in Beijing, portraying him as leading a “people’s war” against the virus. Airwaves and newspaper pages have been blanketed with reports of how Xi was directing the response, portraying him as leading a “people’s war” against the virus.
Coronavirus spread from China. Now, China doesn’t want the world spreading it back.Coronavirus spread from China. Now, China doesn’t want the world spreading it back.
But through the course of the epidemic until Tuesday, Xi had not visited Hubei province, instead sending the premier, Li Keqiang, in the early days and vice-premier Sun Chunlan more recently. On a walk through apartment complexes in Wuhan last week, residents went onto their balconies to shout “Fake, it’s all fake!” toward Sun, according to videos posted on Twitter.But through the course of the epidemic until Tuesday, Xi had not visited Hubei province, instead sending the premier, Li Keqiang, in the early days and vice-premier Sun Chunlan more recently. On a walk through apartment complexes in Wuhan last week, residents went onto their balconies to shout “Fake, it’s all fake!” toward Sun, according to videos posted on Twitter.
On Tuesday, Xi visited medical workers and patients, military officers and soldiers, community workers and police officers in Wuhan, according to Xinhua.On Tuesday, Xi visited medical workers and patients, military officers and soldiers, community workers and police officers in Wuhan, according to Xinhua.
His first stop was the Huoshenshan hospital facility, which was built in 10 days. He “learned about the hospital’s operations, treatment of patients, protection for medical workers and scientific research there,” Xinhua reported. State media said that he had visited patients, but photos showed him standing in front of a huge screen, talking to them by video link. His first stop was the Huoshenshan hospital facility, which was built in 10 days. He “learned about the hospital’s operations, treatment of patients, protection for medical workers and scientific research there,” Xinhua reported. State media said he had visited patients, but photos showed him standing before a huge screen, talking to them by video link.
This is apparently Xi Jinping's idea of "visiting" coronavirus patients at the Huoshenshan hospital in Wuhan https://t.co/grffnSLXrx pic.twitter.com/vjccbWhFo4This is apparently Xi Jinping's idea of "visiting" coronavirus patients at the Huoshenshan hospital in Wuhan https://t.co/grffnSLXrx pic.twitter.com/vjccbWhFo4
He then visited people stuck in their apartments at the East Lake New City complex in Wuhan. People posted photos on social media showing police officers sitting on the balconies of their apartments, saying two officers had been dispatched to each apartment to ensure residents did not yell at Xi. The images could not be independently verified. He then visited people stuck in their apartments at the East Lake New City complex in Wuhan. People posted photos on social media showing police officers sitting on the balconies, saying two officers had been dispatched to each apartment to ensure residents did not yell at Xi. The images could not be independently verified.
In recent weeks the Chinese Internet has lit up with public criticism and calls for more freedom unseen in Xi’s seven years in power. Although these posts were quickly deleted by censors, the outpouring showed how Xi was facing an unprecedented political crisis. In recent weeks China’s Internet has lit up with public criticism and calls for more freedom unseen in Xi’s seven years in power. Although these posts were deleted by censors, the outpouring showed how Xi was facing an unprecedented political crisis.
“He is trying to repair the damage,” said Minxin Pei, a professor specializing in Chinese politics at Claremont McKenna College in California. “Now, things are getting better and he wants to show that his leadership has been successful.”“He is trying to repair the damage,” said Minxin Pei, a professor specializing in Chinese politics at Claremont McKenna College in California. “Now, things are getting better and he wants to show that his leadership has been successful.”
Unusually, state media announced Tuesday’s visit while it was still unfolding, in contrast to normal practice of reporting it only once completed. Unusually, state media announced Tuesday’s visit while it was unfolding, in contrast to normal practice of reporting it only once completed.
Coronavirus tests Xi’s ‘heavenly mandate,’ but proves a godsend for his surveillance stateCoronavirus tests Xi’s ‘heavenly mandate,’ but proves a godsend for his surveillance state
Alarmed at the impact on China’s already-slowing economy, Xi has been prodding businesses to reopen, even in less-affected parts of Hubei. Alarmed at the epidemic’s impact on China’s slowing economy, Xi has been prodding businesses to reopen.
The province is considering allowing people in medium- or low-risk areas to start traveling, the official Hubei Daily reported Tuesday. They would have to use a “health code” like that already in operation in other parts of the country, where people enter information into their cellphones and are then given red, orange or green ratings. Only those with green codes can enter stores and restaurants and travel on public transportation. The province is considering allowing people in medium- or low-risk areas to start traveling, the official Hubei Daily reported Tuesday. They would have to use a “health code” like that in operation in other parts of the country, where people enter information into their cellphones and are given red, orange or green ratings. Only those with green codes can enter stores and restaurants and travel on public transportation.
Part of the effort to rewrite the domestic narrative of China’s coronavirus outbreak involves exaggerating or playing up the failures of other countries, especially those in the West, said Pei. “The messaging is that we should see the West’s response as bumbling and incompetent,” he said. The effort to rewrite the domestic narrative of China’s coronavirus outbreak involves exaggerating or playing up other countries’ failures, especially those in the West, said Pei. “The messaging is that we should see the West’s response as bumbling and incompetent,” he said.
This has been amplified by recent efforts by Chinese officials to suggest that the coronavirus might not have originated in China but in the United States, and by criticism of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s description of the virus as the “Wuhan virus.” Chinese officials have amplified these efforts by suggesting that the coronavirus might not have originated in China but in the United States, and by criticizing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s description of the virus as the “Wuhan virus.”
Hu Xijin, the firebrand editor of the nationalist Global Times newspaper, criticized as “seriously misleading” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advice that Americans don’t need to wear surgical masks unless they are sick. Hu Xijin, the editor of the nationalist Global Times newspaper, criticized as “seriously misleading” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advice that people don’t need to wear surgical masks unless they are sick.
“All of the Chinese experts have advised people to wear face mask when in contact with others during time of epidemic and consider it one of the most effective measures,” he wrote on Twitter. “Please heed suggestion of Chinese experts.”“All of the Chinese experts have advised people to wear face mask when in contact with others during time of epidemic and consider it one of the most effective measures,” he wrote on Twitter. “Please heed suggestion of Chinese experts.”
 anna.fifield@washpost.com
Liu Yang in Beijing contributed to this report.Liu Yang in Beijing contributed to this report.
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