Zerohedge
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https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/chinese-report-warns-potential-war-us-over-coronavirus-backlash
China’s version of the “Novikov Telegram”
An internal report presented to Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top leaders concludes that global anti-China sentiment is at a level not seen since the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, and recommends preparing for a worst-case scenario of armed conflict with the United States, according to Reuters, citing people familiar with the content of the document.
The report, created by the China Institutes of Contemporary Internal Relations (CICIR) – which is affiliated with the Ministry of State Security – suggests that the wave of anti-China sentiment is led by the United States, which sees China’s rise as a global superpower as a threat to Western democracies.
One of those with knowledge of the report said it was regarded by some in the Chinese intelligence community as China’s version of the “Novikov Telegram”, a 1946 dispatch by the Soviet ambassador to Washington, Nikolai Novikov, that stressed the dangers of U.S. economic and military ambition in the wake of World War Two.
Novikov’s missive was a response to U.S. diplomat George Kennan’s “Long Telegram” from Moscow that said the Soviet Union did not see the possibility for peaceful coexistence with the West, and that containment was the best long-term strategy. –Reuters
Reuters, which hasn’t seen the paper, couldn’t determine to what extent the report’s grim outlook reflects positions held by China’s state leaders, nor how much it might influence policy. That said, it suggests Beijing is taking the threat of global backlash over the coronavirus pandemic – which Western intelligence agencies suspect originated at a Wuhan biolab which was experimenting with bat coronavirus, and had previous concerns raised over the pandemic potential of such research.
China’s early coverup of the outbreak – including silencing and/or disappearing whistleblowing doctors and journalists, lying about the transmissibility of the virus while hoarding personal protective equipment (PPE), quarantining Wuhan domestically while allowing international travel, and using the World Health Organization to run cover – has drawn global scorn as COVID has infected over 3.5 million and killed nearly 250,000 in five months.
Chinese officials had a “special responsibility” to inform their people and the world of the threat posed by the coronavirus “since they were the first to learn of it,” U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in response to questions from Reuters.
Without directly addressing the assessment made in the Chinese report, Ortagus added: “Beijing’s efforts to silence scientists, journalists, and citizens and spread disinformation exacerbated the dangers of this health crisis.” –Reuters
President Trump in recent days has been ratcheting up criticism of Beijing, while threatening new tariffs on China. His administration has been considering retaliatory measures over the outbreak, according to the report – which warns that anti-China sentiment could also threaten their Belt and Road infrastructure initiatives, and that Washington could take advantage by offering financial and military support for regional allies, which would in turn make the security situation in Asia more volatile.
On Monday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that President Trump is reviewing options to penalize China, adding that he expects Beijing to meet their obligations under the phase one trade deal.
“I have every reason to expect that they honor this agreement, and if they don’t, there would be very significant consequences in the relationship and in the global economy as to how people would do business with them,” said Mnuchin.
As Reuters notes, China’s Xi has shaped the country’s military into a fighting force equipped to win modern wars – expanding air and naval capabilities and reach in a challenge to over 70 years of US dominance in Asia.
China’s foreign ministry is now calling for peace and cooperation, saying “the sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations” are in the best interests of both countries and the international community, and that “any words or actions that engage in political manipulation or stigmatization under the pretext of the pandemic, including taking the opportunity to sow discord between countries, are not conducive to international cooperation against the pandemic.”
Trump, meanwhile, announced that he will cut off funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) for being “very China-centric.”
And while the world focuses on China’s response to the virus, Australia – where two scientists from the Wuhan Institute of Virology conducted coronavirus experiments overseas – has called for an international investigation into the origins and spread of COVID-19, while the so-called ‘five eyes’ Western intelligence agencies explore whether coronavirus escaped from the Wuhan lab – while operating under the assumption that it’s a non-modified virus of natural origin.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/chinese-report-warns-potential-war-us-over-coronavirus-backlash
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
China has been on the alert well before covid. The core of the article is not China preparedness, but to yet again repeat the message that China is supposedly solely responsible for a quarter millions deaths from covid, even though the extent of the infection in China was no secret to the rest of the world who failed to respond, at least prepare. And to top if off, now China is now all of the sudden a capable aggressor having built up their military might. And all based on someone’s tale that this Reuter’s writer has no proof of because… Read more »
the insertion of a historical note to contextualize the opinion that there’s an analogy w the Novikov missive is the only meaningful bit of editorializing (for the sake of balance) – and that’s in your ideological support
you’ve lost it
the insertion of that historical note is hearsay and therefore make the whole article irrelevant:
“Reuters, which hasn’t seen the paper, couldn’t determine to what extent the report’s grim outlook reflects positions held by China’s state leaders, nor how much it might influence policy. That said, it suggests…”
My only ‘ideological support’ is for things that are factual, rather than suggestive.
Clarity ? … what’s that ?… you have no name ? … you are not free ? … you are paid to speak on behalf of others ? … speak for yourself ! … until than, you are just a paid figure, working for the sinister Chinese Communist Party or any other sinister organization…
Yet another China bashing article from the Duran. You’ve truly gone over to the dark side: just another shill site rebroadcasting the MSM Bs!
It’s from zerohedge you moron. So, china represents the ‘light’ side. Pfft..communists.🤦♂️
have you counted how many times Reuters is cited in this article? Zerohedge has its own agenda. It is not doing videos claiming to offer rational analysis.
Tom,
At any rate The Duran has chosen to share this material and that is unfortunate. Calling nonsense on all the China-bashing articles does not make us communists. Rather we are tired of the lies coming from the same sources (Iraq-WMD anyone?) who are in turn controlled by war-mongers.
Seems this is another article from the blue pill media-matrix side and we (commenters here) are, again, not buying it. Well done guys.
+100
This article follows the standard Duran pattern of taking as read all the usual rabid neocon anti China talking points and smears. It is assumed to be self evident that China covered up the outbreak and is responsible for the damage caused by the arrogance, complacency, ignorance and rank incompetence of Trump and his cronies. After a brief period of confusion and hesitation, with a certain amount of wishful thinking and desire to avoid panic, China responded with tremendous energy and drive, bringing the outbreak under control with significantly lower loss of life than America and Europe. China published the… Read more »
Great comment. You absolutely nailed it. There appears to have been a steady flow of anti-China articles on this site lately, which is disappointing. It is something of a departure from the quality of the material in other articles published on here.
All this is based on what some tame media hack has been spoon fed by an intelligence “source”.
Anonymous and unattributed, naturally.
Why is space provided here for this trash?
Zerohedge has become another anti-China propaganda site. Statements made about wuhan were taken verbatim from US talking points.
None of the stupidly false propaganda deserves rebuttal. Nothing will come of this matter. Trade will continue as before.
I seriously doubt that the US would be stupid enough to go to war with China, although never say never because stupidity runs long and deep in US administrations. However, if China was a small and unarmed country then that is a different story. We would see how US fighters bombed various targets and elation on ships with high fives etc. The problem with a conflict with China are several. First, the Chinese are well armed and very able to defend their territory and would inflict a very heavy toll on the US and their allies. Second, and little talked… Read more »
Both, China and Russia are atomic powers. The USA will not dare to attack them. They attack only the small, weak countries.