Global coordinated effort called critical

Tang Bei, Associate researcher at School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Shanghai International Studies University

After the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, countries have adopted precautions of different levels. How do you see the measures, particularly the travel restriction and border closure taken by countries such as United States and Australia?

Countries do have a right to take preventive actions to protect their people from epidemics. But from the standpoint of international cooperation, some countries have overreacted in this novel coronavirus outbreak because the World Health Organization has declared that countries should not impose travel or trade restrictions on China.

The consequences of these travel bans, from my point of view, have two parts. First, it will not only hurt the Chinese economy, but also affect industries of the countries imposing such bans, hurting companies in foreign trade, tourism and transportation.

Second, it might create concerns that cause governments to hold back information on epidemics in their countries out of fear of such restrictions, thus undermining transparency in the fight against the novel coronavirus, as many countries have already reported infections of the virus.

On Jan 30, the WHO's International Health Regulations Emergency Committee advised "a global coordinated effort" in dealing with the disease. What are your suggestions to achieve the goal?

I have three suggestions on a global coordinated effort. First, governments should respect the role of the WHO in handling this public health emergency's international concerns and follow the WHO's advice, including sharing information and activating their public health system.

Second, governments should coordinate between different departments, such as between the public health system and the public transportation system. They should also work with organizations across fields, such as World Organization for Animal Health and UNICEF, to provide help or special expertise in related areas.

Third, coordination should include grassroots levels in coping with the new epidemic. Individuals and the private sector should be mobilized and act in accordance with professional guidance, which we have already seen in China.

What are some measures China can implement in terms of international cooperation to ease the concerns of other countries?

What is most important is China's containment of the epidemic. If the Chinese government sticks to its job and stops the virus from spreading further within the country, it will be a great contribution to international society.

The Chinese government also should strengthen screening at its border controls to prevent people with potential infections from going overseas and enhance transparency in sharing information with other countries. This is a responsibility China shoulders for the rest of the world.

China had already submitted articles on public health to many bodies of regional cooperation and frameworks, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, showing that the government has paid a lot of attention to international cooperation in public health.

What progress has China made in dealing with the public health emergency, compared with the SARS outbreak in 2003? What are the challenges it still faces?

China has improved a lot in public health systems over the past 15 years. It has established a network of centers for disease control. The government has acted much more swiftly this time. I also see strong participation of its civil society, ranging from students to companies, in providing assistance to affected areas.

But judging from the current situation, the result is far from perfect. Because of more efficient transportation, the increase in the number of people making trips and the highly contagious nature of the novel coronavirus, China faces great challenges in containing the outbreak in the short term.

Over the long term, human resources in public health are lacking. It will be a big problem for the government if it cannot educate and retain specialists in this area.