China’s State Council Information Office on Wednesday released a white paper titled COVID-19 Prevention, Control and Origins Tracing: China’s Actions and Stance. The National Health Commission (NHC) responded to press questions, outlining why the document was issued and the key takeaways for a global audience.
Why Publish a White Paper?
Since the first outbreak, China has maintained an open approach—sharing data, offering aid, and hosting 161 press conferences by May 2020. Yet, amid legal claims like Missouri’s $24.49 billion lawsuit and allegations of “hoarding medical supplies,” China presented this white paper as a systematic overview of its origins-tracing achievements, pandemic response contributions, and a critique of the US approach.
Tracing the Origins: Next Steps
The white paper highlights joint studies with the World Health Organization, from clinical and molecular epidemiology to animal-host research. While the 2021 Joint WHO-China Study reached no contradicting conclusions, new serological surveys from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) show early COVID-19 antibodies in US samples from December 2019. China calls for a comprehensive WHO-led investigation in the US, insisting on data sharing for a true global picture.
A Tale of Two Responses
Data-driven insights tell a stark story:
- The US labeled COVID-19 as “bad flu,” paused key CDC data in March 2020, and saw cases surpass 660,000 by April 2020.
- Life expectancy in the US dropped by 2.7 years from 2019 to 2021, while China’s rose from 77.3 to 78.6 years over the same period.
- US COVID-19 deaths reached 1.13 million (16.4 percent of global toll), according to CDC data as of May 2023.
Meanwhile, China shipped over 4.6Â billion protective suits and 430Â billion masks to 153 countries, sent 38 expert teams to 34 nations, and has been a consistent partner in WHO missions.
Global Health Governance: China’s Ongoing Role
China has shared genome sequences, hosted WHO expert missions, and backed efforts to update the International Health Regulations and a pandemic treaty. Despite US funding suspensions and withdrawal, China says it will stay fully engaged—contributing Chinese perspectives and solutions to strengthen a sustainable global public health system.
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China's health authority answers questions on white paper from press
cgtn.com
