Author: James Palmer
Affiliation: Foreign Policy
Organization/Publisher: Foreign Policy
Date/Place: December 23, 2020/USA
Type of Literature: Opinion Article
Word Count: 1593
Link:https://Foreignpolicy.Com/2020/12/23/How-China-Shaped-The-World-In-2020/
Keywords: China, Covid-19, Wuhan Outbreak, National Security Law, Sterilization
Brief:
The year 2020 has changed the course of human history. From our social lives to national and international politics, everything has now been transformed entirely. From the international relation’s perspective, in particular, US-China relations have reached a historic low where none of the news was good. From this perspective, James Palmer reviews the biggest stories on China that dominated in 2020, which have far-reaching implications on the globe. According to the Foreign Policy author, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, China has become more unpopular internationally. However, the country successfully slowed its own virus outbreak by adopting coercive measures. Last year, Beijing tightened its control over Hong Kong by imposing draconian national security law. After an initial wave of protests, Hong Kong lost its fight against the suppressing law. According to the Foreign Policy year-brief on China, “How China Shaped the World in 2020, From Wuhan to Xinjian,” fierce new nationalism is also visible on the diplomatic stage where Chinese foreign ministry officials have issued wild denials against all the claims that Coronavirus started in China. On the other hand, China has continued and extended Uighur Muslims’ brutal repression by forcing them to forced labor. In the context of the Coronavirus outbreak, American politicians, including the US president, have taken a racist tone against China while anti-Asian prejudice has increased in the United States in 2020.
By: Maryam Khan, CIGA Research Associate