Blame Game Impedes Global Anti-epidemic Cooperation
指责推诿无助于全球抗疫合作
Ambassador Qian Bo to Fiji
驻斐济大使钱波
May 8 2020
2020年5月8日
No evidence showing the virus was made in a lab
无任何证据表明新冠病毒是在实验室产生
China’s position with regard to the origin and transmission routes of the novel coronavirus is clear. It is a matter of science on which we should only rely on the findings of scientists and medical experts. WHO has repeatedly stated that there is no evidence showing the virus was made in a lab. Many renowned medical specialists in the world have also debunked the “lab leakage” theory as not science-based at all.
关于新冠病毒源头和传播途径问题，中方立场是明确的。我们始终认为，这是一个科学问题，应该交由科学家和医学专家去研究。世界卫生组织负责人已经多次表示，没有任何证据表明新冠病毒是在实验室产生的。世界上很多知名医学专家也都认为，所谓“实验室泄露”等说法毫无科学依据。
27 public health scientists from around the world jointly issuing an online statement published on February by The Lancet, a world-renowned general medical journal. They noted that “We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin,” they said, “conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumours, and prejudice that jeopardise our global collaboration in the fight against this virus.” On May 1, Richard Horton, the editor-in-chief of the British-based medical journal The Lancet said, “It’s very important to understand the origin of this virus and study it scientifically without these conspiracy theories contaminating our thinking.”
今年2月，来自27位公共卫生相关领域学者联合署名在英国医学期刊《柳叶刀》网站发表声明，强烈谴责那些认为新冠肺炎并非自然起源的阴谋论，他们强调，阴谋论除了制造恐慌、谣言、偏见、损害全球共同抗击该疾病的工作外，别无它用。5月1日，《柳叶刀》杂志主编理查德·霍顿说：“我们必须要以科学的态度来研究毒起源，不能让这样的阴谋论扰乱我们的思考，这种阴谋论造成的负面影响是很严重的。”
On May 4, World Health Organization said it has received no evidence from the US to back up claims the novel coronavirus came from a lab in Wuhan. WHO Health Emergencies Programme’s executive director, Michael Ryan, called the claims “speculative”, and reiterated that scientific evidence suggests COVID-19 is natural in origin.
5月4日，世卫组织卫生紧急项目执行主任迈克尔·瑞安在记者会上表示，没有收到美国政府提供的任何有关新冠病毒起源的数据或证据。世卫组织重申从目前已获取的大量病毒基因序列来看，新冠病毒源自自然界。
On May 4, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the scientific face of America’s pandemic response, said in an exclusive interview with National Geographic published, “The best evidence shows the virus behind the pandemic was not made in a lab in China. Everything about the stepwise evolution over time strongly indicates that this virus evolved in nature and then jumped species.” He added that he doesn’t believe the alternate theory that someone discovered coronavirus in the wild, brought it to a lab and then it accidentally unleashed it on the public.
5月4日，美国知名流行病学家安东尼·福奇日前接受美国《国家地理》杂志专访时表示，科学证据表明，全球疫情大流行背后的病毒并非源自中国的实验室。福奇表示：“随着时间推移，一切都强有力地表明（新冠病毒）来源于自然，然后跨越了物种。”福奇补充说，他也不相信另外一种关于新冠病毒的传言，即有人在野外环境中发现新冠病毒后，将其带到实验室再意外泄漏出来。
Facts speak loud for China’s openness, transparency in COVID-19 fight
事实展现中国在抗击疫情过程中的公开透明
China has been open, transparent and responsible in its COVID-19 response. We did not cover up anything, and did not delay any efforts. We have already publicized the time line of how we have shared the information on COVID-19.
中国的抗疫举措是公开、透明、负责任的。中国没有任何隐瞒疫情的行为，也没有任何的延误。我们已经全面公布了疫情通报的时间线。
Starting from Jan. 3, China has been updating the WHO and relevant countries, including the US, about COVID-19 on a regular basis. On the following day, the heads of CDCs of China and the US touched base with each other.
从1月3日起，中方开始定期向世界卫生组织以及美国等国家主动通报疫情信息。之后第2天，中美两国疾控中心负责人就进行了沟通。
On Jan. 5, the WHO published its first disease outbreak news on the new virus, including a risk assessment, advice, and China’s reports on the virus.
1月5日，世界卫生组织首次就中国武汉出现的不明原因肺炎病例进行通报，包括风险评估和建议，并报告了中国向世卫组织通报的在武汉发生的聚集性肺炎病例患者状况和公共卫生对策。
On Jan. 12, China timely shared with the world the whole genome sequencing of the coronavirus, which has been critical for diagnosis, treatment and vaccine development in relevant countries.
1月12日，中国及时向世界公布了新型冠状病毒全基因组序列，为有关国家确诊、治疗及疫苗研发等提供了重要前提。
On Jan. 23, China put Wuhan, a city of over 10 million people, under quarantine. That was a momentous decision that was unseen before in our history. It was a massive action that has caught the world’s attention.
1月23日，武汉实施前所未有的“封城”，将一个1000多万人口的城市“封控”起来。这是一个惊天动地、举世皆知的行动。
On Jan. 30, WHO Director-General declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), sending the highest level of alarm.
1月30日，世界卫生组织总干事谭德塞在日内瓦宣布，新冠病毒疫情构成“国际关注的突发公共卫生事件”，发出该组织最高级别警报。
Starting from Jan 22, under the joint prevention and control mechanism of the State Council, press conference was held on a daily base. Up till May 5, 125 press conferences had been held on a wide range of topics, including more than 1000 questions raised by Chinese and foreign reporters.
1月22日起，中方开始每日组织召开国务院联防联控机制新闻发布会，截至5月5日共举办125场，回答中外媒体涉及疫情防控、医疗救治、科研攻关等众多领域的上千个问题。
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the Chinese people have united as one to fight the epidemic, thus buying valuable time and making important contributions to the fight against the pandemic throughout the world. Those who accuse China of being untransparent are unjust and insulting to the great sacrifices made by the Chinese people.
疫情暴发以来，中国人民团结一心、众志成城，奋力抗击疫情，为全世界的抗疫斗争赢得了宝贵时间，也作出了重要贡献。那些指责中国不透明、不公开的声音是不公正的，是对中国人民付出的巨大牺牲的亵渎。
“Political virus” even more dangerous than coronavirus
“政治病毒”比新冠病毒更危险
The virus is a common enemy to all mankind and may strike anytime, anywhere. Like other countries, China is also a victim, not a perpetrator, even less an accomplice of COVID-19. China has contributed to the global efforts against COVID-19, and has been a partner of the world along the way. In the face of major public health crises and infectious diseases, the international community should stand in solidarity and work together, not resort to mutual accusation or demand retribution and accountability.
病毒是全人类共同的敌人，可能在任何时间、世界上任何地方出现。中国同世界其他国家一样，都受到了病毒的攻击，是受害者，不是加害者，更不是病毒的同谋。中国是国际抗疫合作的贡献者、合作者。面对重大的公共卫生危机和传染病威胁，国际社会应当团结协作同舟共济，而不是相互指责，甚至叫嚣什么追责、索赔。
First, it has no legal basis. These is no international law that supports blaming a country simply for being the first to report a disease. Neither does history offer any such precedent. Second, it runs counter to common sense. China was among the countries hit by the first wave of COVID-19. China has suffered enormous losses and made big sacrifices in curbing the virus. We have gathered important experience, gained precious time and made a big contribution for the world’s battle against the virus. What China deserves is fair recognition, not groundless accusation.
首先于法无据。国际上没有哪条法律支持向首先报告疫情的国家追责，历史上也没有这样的先例。其次于理不通。中国遭到疫情第一波冲击，付出巨大代价和牺牲遏制疫情，为全球抗疫赢得了时间，积累了宝贵经验，作出了巨大贡献，应该得到公正对待而不是责难。
The unreasonable and legally unfounded demand for China’s reparations is not different from blackmail. The intention is nothing but shifting blame to China for the inadequate response of someone else. Blame game finds little support, and ends up nowhere.
既然要中国赔偿既不合理也不合法，那同不法之徒敲诈勒索有什么区别？要中国赔偿无非是想把自身抗疫不力的责任转嫁到中国身上，这种“甩锅”把戏不得人心，也不可能得逞。
Did anyone ask the US to offer compensations for the 2009 H1N1 flu, which was first diagnosed before breaking out on a large scale in the US and then spread to 214 countries and regions, killing nearly 200,000 people? AIDS was first reported in the US in the 1980s and then swept across the world, causing untold sufferings to countless victims. Did anyone come forward and ask the US to be held accountable?
2009年，H1N1流感在美国大面积暴发并蔓延到214个国家和地区，导致近20万人死亡，有人要求美国赔偿吗？上个世纪80年代，艾滋病首先在美国发现并蔓延至全世界，不知道给世界上多少人造成痛苦，有谁找美国追责了吗？
In addition, Kishore Mahbubani, a professor at the National University of Singapore, said in an interview the other day that the financial turmoil in the US triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 turned into a global financial crisis. Did anyone ask the US to take the consequences?
此外，新加坡国立大学教授马凯硕日前在接受采访时表示，2008年发生在美国的金融动荡，雷曼兄弟公司破产，最终演变成全球的金融危机，有谁要求美国为此承担后果了吗？
Solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons
团结合作是国际社会战胜疫情最有力武器
Despite the daunting task of outbreak response at home, China is doing its best to help those countries in need. The Chinese government has provided much-needed supplies to over 150 countries and international organizations. Chinese local governments, charity organizations, NGOs and business communities have given aid overseas worth more than 2.5 billion yuan. China has invested over 1 billion yuan to scientific research on COVID-19, and the Chinese research institutes and companies have invested far more. China also supports other countries in getting commercial access to medical supplies in China. In the past two months, Chinese companies have supplied 24 billion face masks, 120 million protective suits, and 44,000 ventilators overseas. China has donated 20 million U.S. dollars to the WHO to support response to COVID-19 and recently announced another donation of 30 million dollars. China has held over 120 video conferences with health experts from over 160 countries and international organizations, and has sent 19 medical teams to 17 countries.
中国是国际社会负责任成员，尽管自身防疫任务依然艰巨，仍尽力为有需要的国家提供力所能及的帮助。中国政府设立了抗疫合作专项资金，已向150多个国家和国际组织提供了急需的抗疫物资，地方政府、慈善机构、人民团体、工商界也积极参与其中。中国为应对疫情加大科研攻关投入，毫无保留地同国际社会分享防控经验和诊疗方案，同160多个国家和国际组织召开120余场视频交流会议，向17个国家派出19支医疗专家组。中国宣布在前期向世卫组织捐款现汇基础上，增加现汇捐款，用于新冠肺炎疫情防控、支持发展中国家卫生体系建设等工作。
China has always upheld the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and done its best to prevent and control the epidemic. We hope certain media and people discard ideological prejudice and do not ignore with tinted glasses the great sacrifice Chinese people have made and the precious time China bought for international response. Virus knows no national borders, and the epidemic distinguishes no races. Only with solidarity and by cooperation, can the international community prevail over the pandemic and safeguard the common homeland of humanity. At present, the Fijian people are fighting against the epidemic under the leadership of Prime Minister Bainimarama. China will stand together with Fiji to jointly overcome the epidemic at an early date.
中国一直秉持人类命运共同体理念，做好自己的疫情防控，也希望某些媒体和人士放下意识形态偏见，不要用有色眼镜看待中国人民以牺牲而为国际抗疫赢得的宝贵时间。病毒没有国界，疫情不分种族。唯有团结协作、携手应对，国际社会才能战胜疫情，维护人类共同家园。当前斐济人民正在姆拜尼马拉马总理领导下抗击疫情，我们愿同斐方同舟共济，共同早日战胜疫情。