It seems as though the more we learn about China’s actions during this global crisis, the less we can trust them.
Even looking at the reported numbers as they stand today, something looks amiss with the data coming out of China, particularly as you factor in that they were blindsided by the outbreak, and that they are the world’s most populous country.
Some American lawmakers have already suggested that China is likely downplaying the severity of the illness, either in an effort to make themselves look better, or in an attempt to have the rest of the world caught off guard. By allowing the virus to ravage other nations, China would boost their position among the world superpowers.
And while these are still just possibilities, a new bit of evidence from South America seems to add a little more powder to the keg, so to speak.
Brazilian Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta told a news conference on Wednesday that China is shipping very few of the ventilators Brazil ordered for victims of the Wuhan coronavirus, so bids from Brazilian companies are now being solicited to build the machines.
“Practically all our purchases of equipment in China are not being confirmed,” Mandetta said, referring with particular dismay to an order for 15,000 ventilators from Chinese providers.
Mandetta said a local equipment maker called Magnamed has been contracted to build 6,000 ventilators over the next 90 days. Several industrial concerns, including paper companies and automaker Fiat Chrysler, have also offered to make ventilators.
China’s reluctance to send much needed medical equipment to the rest of the world is yet another piece of the puzzle.
If Beijing is found to be culpable at the end of all of this, there is no doubt that calls for reparations will follow shortly.
