How China Is Using Coronavirus To Wage Political Warfare

It's a continuation of war by other means.

by Dean Cheng

Even amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, China’s efforts at political warfare remain in full swing.

China assiduously tries to shape the world’s view of COVID-19, and China’s role in it, by denying any responsibility for the rise and spread of the new coronavirus as well as attempting to shift the blame toward the United States.

In that context, it’s essential to recognize that when the Chinese Communist Party talks about “public opinion warfare,” wages the “three warfares” (public opinion, psychological, and legal), or thinks about political warfare, in each instance, it’s doing so as warfare, period.

Chinese conduct of public opinion warfare and legal warfare is on display in recent actions, including using the U.S. as the party responsible for the spread of COVID-19. China undertakes these efforts much like military operations.

Such actions are implemented within the framework of “the principles of war.”

For the U.S. military, that’s often been simplified to the mnemonic “ MOOSEMUSS ”:  Mass, Objective, Offensive, Security, Economy of Force, Maneuver, Unity of Command, Surprise, Simplicity.

Thus, when conducting public opinion warfare, there must be “mass”; i.e., you have a large number of outlets working at the same time. You also must “maneuver”; i.e., you need to be flexible, and you need to take the “offensive” to exploit openings as they occur.

“Unity of command” couples with “mass” to ensure that everyone is working toward the same “objective.”

So, Chinese political warfare efforts writ large will be conducted under a single plan; will rarely involve just one action, comment, or outlet; and likely will be sustained. It will enjoy operational security (OPSEC), the same way that a military operation should. (Leakers will not be feted and celebrated.)

Similarly, Chinese political warfare will operate as a “combined arms” effort, employing different methods and exploiting the strengths of each. We see this with the Chinese lawsuits accusing the U.S. of starting (or at least spreading) the new coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19.

That highlights the operationalization of these aspects. Multiple lawsuits (legal warfare) follow on the heels of tweets and broader discussions in the Chinese media, all hammering the same ideas.

One can insist that “political warfare” is a misnomer—that it’s not even “warfare”—and for the West, including the U.S., that may well be true.

But that’s not how the Chinese see it at all. For them, political warfare is the hardest form of soft power and is a strategic option that is underway all the time.

That the world is in the grip of a pandemic makes little difference, because, for the Chinese Communist Party, war is not politics by other means. Politics is war by other means.

This article by Dean Cheng first appeared in The Daily Signal on April 4, 2020.

China Threatens to Throw America 'Into the Mighty Sea of the Coronavirus.'

China is threatening to wreak havoc on America’s drug supply amid the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. Thanks to our globalist elite and especially missteps during the Obama-Biden administration, Beijing has the power to do just that.

by Christian Whiton

China is threatening to wreak havoc on America’s drug supply amid the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. Thanks to our globalist elite and especially missteps during the Obama-Biden administration, Beijing has the power to do just that.

In an article in Xinhua, one of the Chinese Communist Party’s mouthpieces, Beijing threatened that it can impose pharmaceutical export controls after which America will be “plunged into the mighty sea of coronavirus.”

Unfortunately, Beijing isn’t bluffing about this capability.

As Rosemary Gibson, co-author of “China Rx: Exposing the Risks of America’s Dependence on China for Medicine,” testified to a congressional committee last summer, China has a dominant role in the manufacture of the generic drugs that comprise 90 per cent of what Americans take.

The critical vulnerability isn’t just in finished drugs, but what is called active pharmaceutical ingredients, some 80 per cent of which America now imports. Most of these come from Red China.

Even finished drugs from other sources are dependent on China. Another major source of generic drugs in India, and 80 per cent of that country’s drug ingredients come from China.

There are many culprits behind this betrayal, but some deserve special mention. 

Foremost is the globalist cabal that exported our industries to China in the name of “free trade.” As Gibson also reports, within four years of passage of the Clinton-era law giving China unfettered access to U.S. markets and WTO membership, “the last penicillin fermentation plant in the U.S. closed; China’s vitamin C cartel forced the closure of the last U.S. production facility, and the last aspirin manufacturing facility ceased business because of predatory pricing by Chinese firms.”

The Chinese government has used its favourite playbook to make the world dependent on its drugs: protecting and subsidizing domestic manufacturers to undersell American competitors, aided by Chinese industrial espionage. Indeed, biotechnology is one of ten categories of Beijing’s “Made in China 2025” industrial strategy which has driven so much of its theft of intellectual property and dumping of goods at below-market prices to kill U.S. businesses.

Among the globalists, the former Obama-Biden administration is particularly culpable for putting America at risk. During the eight years of that administration, then-Vice President Biden was often the frontman for responding to the increasing number of foreign outbreaks to which America has been exposed.

During the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic in 2009, Biden incorrectly addressed the public about the outbreak, “I would tell members of my family, and I have, I wouldn’t go anywhere in confined places right now… It’s that you are in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes everywhere through the aircraft.”

Speaking about the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, Biden recently said, “I was part of making sure that pandemic did not get to the United States, saved millions of lives.” In fact, the Obama administration admitted people known to have the disease to America.

During the Zika virus outbreak, Biden was in charge of pressuring Congress for funds. 

Are we to believe that amid all of this attention to outbreak that Biden and his globalist colleagues didn’t know of America’s growing inability to make even the most basic pharmaceuticals? Throughout the Obama-Biden administration, our dependence on China got much worse. 

Last month, Biden criticized the Trump administration’s response to the Wuhan coronavirus. Initially, he slammed the president’s unprecedented decision to stop flights from China: “This is no time for Donald Trump’s record of hysteria and xenophobia--hysterical xenophobia--and fearmongering.”

Later he flip-flopped to accusing Trump of not doing enough, imagining if he were president that, “I would be on the phone with China making it clear we are going to need to be in your country. You have to be open. You have to be clear. We have to know what’s going on.”

Of course, Beijing’s unwillingness to allow anything of the sort is a reason their coronavirus has spread far and wide. Oddly, Biden and his fellow globalists remain sanguine about China and its ability to influence its communist government. Last year, he said of China, “they’re not bad folks,” and “they’re no competition for us.” 

Of course, Biden was not alone, and neither were the Democrats. The House of Bush was always fond of the myth that the economic engagement of China, evidently on terms favourable to Beijing, would turn an adversary into an ally. The myth lives on. Bob Zoellick, who was George W. Bush’s trade kingpin, has been an outspoken opponent of Trump’s effort to end U.S. dependence on China, lamely claiming, “You can’t contain China.”

To fix this medical vulnerability, Trump should apply gradually increasing, permanent tariffs on Chinese drugs and ingredients. He should also establish a strategic reserve of drugs by requiring the Defense Department and Veterans Affairs to buy only drugs that are 100 per cent made in America. This domestic demand would create domestic supply.

Trump should also press drug companies to start a crash program to achieve supply chain independence from China. It would be great if he could achieve this through an appeal to patriotism. If not, he should use the Defense Production Act of 1950 to force the issue.

It’s time to reverse the globalist sellout of America that has put Beijing in charge of our drug supply chain.

Christian Whiton, a senior fellow at the Center for the National Interest, is the author of Smart Power: Between Diplomacy and War. He was a State Department senior advisor during the George W. Bush and Trump administrations.

Coronavirus is a Biowarfare Weapon Developed by The US - Law, Professor Claims

On January 30, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the “coronavirus outbreak (to be) a public health emergency of international concern.”

On Sunday, US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci said the coronavirus “almost certainly is going to be a pandemic.”

The WHO defines a pandemic as a “worldwide spread of a new disease.”

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls it “a disease that spreads across several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people.”

Britain’s Health and Safety Executive says a viral outbreak can be characterized as a pandemic if it’s “markedly different from recently circulating strains,” notably if “humans have little or no immunity” to it.

The New York Times quoted former CDC director Thomas Frieden, saying it’s “increasingly unlikely (that the coronavirus) can be contained,” adding:

“It is therefore likely that it will spread, like flu and other organisms do, but we still don’t know how far, wide, or deadly it will be.”

The term pandemic applies to a disease that affects large numbers of people worldwide — clearly not applicable to the coronavirus outbreak based on evidence so far. See below.

According to Mayo Clinic’s Dr Pritish Tosh:

“In epidemiologic terms, an outbreak refers to a number of cases that exceeds what would be expected.”

“A pandemic is when there is an outbreak that affects most of the world.”

“We use the term endemic when there is an infection within a geographic location that is existing perpetually.”

An epidemic refers to an infectious disease outbreak in a particular country or community.

How do the above definitions apply to the coronavirus outbreak in China?

Here are the latest numbers through Monday: 20,622 confirmed cases, 426 dead in China, the outbreak mostly in Wuhan and surrounding areas.

Cases in other countries aren’t anywhere near epidemic or pandemic levels. Judge for yourself:

Australia – 12, mostly individuals who returned from Wuhan or Hubei province

Cambodia – 1

Canada – 4

Finland – 1

France – 6

Germany – 10

India – 3

Italy – 2

Japan — 20

Malaysia – 8 (all Chinese nationals)

Nepal – 1

The Philippines – 2

Russia – 2

Singapore – 18

South Korea – 15

Spain – 1

Sri Lanka – 1

Sweden – 1

Taiwan – 10

Thailand – 19

UAE – 5

UK – 2

US – 11

Vietnam – 8

Most of the above cases apply to Chinese nationals or individuals who returned from the country, in most or all cases from Wuhan.

In response to a question asked by a friend on the seriousness of the coronavirus outbreak to people in the US, I explained that the chance of being in an auto accident or harmed by one at home is far greater.

I also stressed that establishment media, especially US cable channels, are the most unreliable sources of information on the coronavirus outbreak, featuring fear-mongering reports.

Some examples include:

The New York Times: “Beijing Sees ‘Major Test’ as Doors to China Close and Coronavirus Deaths Surpass SARS”

The Washington Post: “States scramble to carry out Trump’s coronavirus travel order”

The Wall Street Journal: “Coronavirus Closes China to the World, Straining Global Economy”

Fox News: “Experts worry about pandemic as coronavirus numbers increase”

CNN: “Wuhan coronavirus: Confirmed cases top 20,000 as China marks the deadliest day”

Other establishment media headlined reports are similar.

According to the CDC, at least 15 million flu illnesses have been reported so far during the 2019 – 20 season, resulting in 140,000 hospitalizations and 8,200 deaths in the US.

These numbers reflect a national epidemic. Yet little about this is reported — other than annual recommendations to get flu shots, sponsored by Big Pharma.

Natural News calls them “the greatest medical fraud in the history of the world.” Why?

Because they “contain over 50 ppm mercury, an extremely toxic heavy metal linked to kidney failure, birth defects, spontaneous abortions and neurological damage.”

The same goes for other vaccines, potentially more dangerous than diseases they’re meant to protect against.

They’re a bonanza for Big Pharma. On February 1, CNBC reported that “(i)investors (are) rush(ing) into biotechs (that are) working on coronavirus vaccine(s).”

A dozen or more companies are working on developing them, clinical testing to begin in a few months, the profit potential huge. When approved for sale, they’ll be marketed worldwide, advertising promoting them.

On Monday, Natural News reported that the coronavirus was “engineered by scientists in a lab using well documented genetic engineering vectors that leave behind a ‘fingerprint,’ ” adding:

“(T)he WHO and CDC are covering up this inconvenient fact…”

Law Professor Francis Boyle drafted the US Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989 — signed into law by GHW Bush, revoked by Bush/Cheney on the pretext of rebuilding America’s defences at a time when the nation’s only enemies are invented. No real ones exist.

Boyle believes the potentially deadly coronavirus is a biowarfare weapon, genetically modified for this purpose.

China’s Wuhan BSL-4 lab is a WHO-designated research lab, Boyle explaining that the organization is fully aware of what’s happening and how.

Boyle’s assessment contradicts claims about the virus originating from a Wuhan seafood market or being connected to coronaviruses found in bats.

Indian Institute of Technology scientists “discovered that the Wuhan coronavirus has been engineered with AIDS-like insertions” — meaning it’s not a naturally occurring phenomenon if true, adding:

It’s “quite unlikely for a virus to have acquired such unique insertions naturally in a short duration of time.”

China is using AIDS drugs to treat infected patients. China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention is working on developing a vaccine.

In 2003, media spread fear-mongering about a SARS pandemic proved way overblown, 800 deaths reported after hysteria subsided.

In the same year, 42,643 people in the US were killed in 6,328,000 police-reported motor vehicle accidents, 2,889,000 people injured.

In 2009, the WHO falsely predicted a global Swine flu H1N1 pandemic that could affect “as many as two billion people over the next two years.”

At the time, evidence suggested that the H1N1 strain was bioengineered in a US laboratory, vaccines produced for it extremely hazardous and potentially lethal.

No national or global emergency existed. No pandemic or epidemic occurred. The CDC estimated that from 8,330 to 17,160 deaths resulted from the strain.

Fear-mongering at the time aimed to convince people to take experimental, untested, toxic and extremely dangerous vaccines that can damage the human immune system and cause health problems ranging from annoying to life-threatening.

A similar scenario is in play today. Vaccines could be rushed to market, Big Pharma promoting their use.

The US had an active biological warfare program since at least the 1940s.

In 1941, it implemented a secret program to develop offensive and allegedly defensive bioweapons using controversial testing methods.

During WW II, the US Chemical Warfare Services began mustard gas experiments on about 4,000 servicemen.

In 1945, the US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) implemented “Program F.”

It was the most extensive US study of the health effects of fluoride – a key chemical component in atomic bomb production.

It’s one of the most toxic chemicals known, risking harm to the central nervous system.

Yet low concentration amounts are in drinking water and toothpaste, little or nothing reported officially or by establishment media on its toxicity.

Since at least the 1940s, VA patients were guinea pigs for medical experiments.

The Pentagon earlier released biological agents in US cities to learn the effects of germ warfare in populated areas, tests are done secretly.

In 1953, the CIA initiated Project MKULTRA – a multi-year research program to test drugs and biological agents for mind control and behaviour modification, unwitting human subjects used.

From the 1960s at least through the 1980s, the US used biological agents against Cuba.

During the Vietnam War, the Pentagon’s use of hugely toxic Agent Orange and sarin nerve gas killed, disabled, or caused chronic illnesses for millions, mainly civilians.

In all US wars, radiological, chemical, biological and other banned weapons are used, inflicting a devastating toll on people in targeted areas.

Is the coronavirus a bioweapon as Francis Boyle believes? Most likely, it’ll be contained in the weeks ahead, reported numbers of individuals infected falling, not rising.

When all is said and done, ongoing fear-mongering will likely prove to be a bonanza for Big Pharma.

As for the coronavirus, it may end up a footnote in medical history — thousands affected in China, not millions, mainly in and around Wuhan, small numbers elsewhere.

Stephen Lendman, born in 1934 in Boston, started writing on major world and national issues began in the summer of 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network three times weekly. Distinguished guests are featured. Listen live or archived. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011 Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient. 

Lendman’s newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

(The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Press TV.)

This article has been adapted from its original source.

Tags:USAnthony Faucicoronavirus

The first coronaviruses discovered that are able to infect humans are 229E and OC43. Both of these viruses usually result in the common cold and rarely cause severe disease on their own. They are often detected at the same time as other respiratory infections. When several viruses, or viruses and bacteria, are found in patients this is called co-infection and can result in more severe disease.

In 2004, NL63 was detected for the first time in a baby suffering from bronchiolitis (a lower respiratory tract infection) in the Netherlands. This virus has probably been around for hundreds of years, we just hadn’t found it until then. A year later, in Hong Kong, another coronavirus was found – this time in an elderly patient with pneumonia. It was later named HKU1 and has been found to be present in populations around the world.

Deadlier strains

But not all coronaviruses cause mild disease. Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) caused by SARS-CoV was first detected in November 2002. The cause of this outbreak wasn’t confirmed until 2003 when the genome of the virus was identified by Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory. Sars bears many similarities to the current pandemic of COVID-19. Older people were much more likely to suffer severe disease and symptoms included fever, cough, muscle pain and sore throat. But there was a much greater chance of dying if you had Sars. From 2002 until the last reported case in 2014, 774 people died.

A decade later, in 2012, there was another outbreak involving a newly identified coronavirus: MERS-CoV. The first case of the Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) occurred in Saudi Arabia. There were two further Mers outbreaks: South Korea in 2015 and Saudi Arabia in 2018. There are a handful of Mers cases every year, but the outbreaks are usually well contained.

So why did Sars or Mers not result in pandemics? The R0 of both Sars and SARS-CoV-2 is about two or three (although some more recent estimates of the R0 for SARS-CoV-2 are around five), meaning that every infected person is likely to infect two or three other people. The symptoms of Sars were more severe, so it was much easier to identify and isolate patients.

The R0 of Mers is below one. It is not very contagious. Most of the cases have been linked to close contact with infected camels or very close contact with an already infected person.

One of the main challenges in containing the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak is that symptoms can be very mild – some people may not even show any symptoms at all – but can still infect other people. SARS-CoV-2 is not as deadly as either Sars or Mers, but because it can spread undetected, the numbers of people it will infect and the numbers that will die will be higher than any coronavirus we have ever encountered. So please, stay at home.

• Common cold

• Coronavirus

• Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

• COVID-19

• SARS-CoV-2

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