Response to Racist Backlash and Calls for Improved U.S.-China Cooperation

Photos by Charles Moehle, Pro Bono Photo. Please credit the photographer.

U.S.-China collaboration on health has collapsed under the Trump administration, a regrettable state of affairs. Speakers at a rally in San Francisco's Chinatown over the weekend called for more cooperation between Beijing and Washington to address the global challenge of the COVID-19 virus. They decried racist incidents and said they were shocked to hear the negative comments about Chinese ethnic background classmates their children are surrounded by at school.

The rally was initiated by Chinese Americans and overseas Chinese in the San Francisco Bay Area wishing to fight the racist backlash seen across the United States in recent weeks as more cases of the virus have come to light. They were joined by Chinatown merchants who are experiencing a drastic drop in business and peace seeking organizations that have long sought to improve U.S.-China relations.

American health officials are reportedly pleased that in recent weeks China has greatly improved transparency in what has become an international health crisis. Last week Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said that the People's Republic has taken comprehensive and rigorous measures of disease prevention and control, many of which go beyond the requirements of international health regulations and the World Health Organization.