U.S. vs. China in the Battle of Perceptions

A charter flight carrying a 9-member Chinese aid team and 31 tons of medical supplies arrived in Rome as part of China's efforts to help Italy contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Photo via People's Daily Online.

Providing global “public goods” in health, security and other areas has long been a responsibility taken on by the United States. Now, though, as the United States struggles to contain the COVID-19 outbreak at home and with its “America First” foreign policy doctrine, Washington is less inclined to providing global leadership, giving China a unique opportunity to fill the void.

As conditions in China begin to improve and life slowly returns to normal in many of the impacted cities, the Chinese government is now dedicating more attention to providing material, technical and financial support for other countries, including many in Africa, in the fight to contain COVID-19.

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by Eric Olander

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