Moment of truth: Xi leads war against COVID-19

Leadership at time of crisis

Meeting World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Beijing on Jan 28, Xi said he has been personally directing the outbreak response and devising prevention and control measures all along.

Epidemic response was on the agenda in a series of Party leadership meetings Xi chaired since early January, including seven meetings of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Xi also took the lead to make a donation to the cause.

During this period, Xi convened two teleconferences for officials from across the country. The biggest was attended by an unprecedented audience of 170,000.

Before coming to Wuhan, Xi had made two epidemic-related inspections in Beijing, on neighborhood prevention and control measures, patient treatment in designated hospitals, and scientific research.

He also made oral or written instructions every day. On Jan 22, Hubei Province, of which Wuhan is the capital city, was asked to impose full and strict control over outbound population flows. "Making this decision requires huge political courage. Time calls for resolute action. Otherwise, we would be in trouble," Xi said.

A day later, Wuhan suspended all urban public transportation and cut off outbound flights and trains. Putting a mega-city with over 10 million residents under quarantine was unprecedented but effective.

Tedros said the "serious measures" taken at the epicenter not only protected Chinese people, but also prevented the spread of the virus to other countries.

On Tuesday, Xi again called the people of Wuhan "heroic," saying that today's positive trend in epidemic control would not be possible without their sacrifices and devotion.

"Xi is the backbone of this battle," said Liu Jingbei, a professor at the China Executive Leadership Academy in Pudong, Shanghai. "His leadership is crucial for the country to ultimately beat the epidemic."