M ZIAUDDIN
I N a graphic demonstration of soft power, so far China has offered Covid-19-related equipment and medical help to no fewer than 89 nations, including Pakistan – and counting. That covers Africa (especially South Africa, Namibia and Kenya, with Alibaba in fact announcing it will send help to allAfrican nations); LatinAmerica (Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Peru); the arc from East Asia to Southwest Asia; and Europe. Key recipients in Europe include Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Serbia and Poland. But Italy, most of all, is a very special case. Most are donations. Some are trade – like millions of masks sold to France and US. According to Pepe Escobar (China rolls outthe Health Silk Road—published in Asia Times on April 2, 2020) in Belt and Road framework, China is supplying much of world including virus-hit Europe with medicine and healthcare items The pandemic, the writer says, only accelerated the timeline and adds, “the Health Silk Road will run in parallel to the multiple overland Silk Road corridors and the Maritime Silk Road.” Less than a year ago Italy, Mr. Escobar points out, became the first G-7 nation to sign a memorandum of understanding formally joining Belt and Road – much to the displeasure of Washington and the Atlanticist galaxy in Brussels and beyond. Italy is said to be supported on myriad fronts – not only at the highest political level but also via the Chinese Red Cross, SinoItalian associations, tech/logistics Chinese companies and donations from Alibaba, Huawei, ZTE and Lenovo and there are three Chinese medical teams in Italy at the moment.All this clearly ties up with the larger Belt and Road picture, featuring investments in Genoa and Trieste, two key ports and future Belt and Road nodes. This Chinese soft power offensive is said to be carefully calibrated to offset the current paralysis of global supply chains. China, as is visibly clear, is now working overtime to supply many parts of the world with medicine and related healthcare items – always with the Belt and Road framework in mind, as if doubling down on Globalization 2.0. And, of course, that prepares the terrain for, when Covid-19 is more or less tamed and the Chinese economy fully recovered, the Belt and Road rebooted: an inexorable historic trend based on a new economic model that Beijing deems more equitable, and in the interests of the Global South. ‘A Health Silk Road’ is said to be already in effect when one sees China, Russia – and Cuba with its first-class health system – sending teams of doctors and virologists as well as planes with medical equipment to Italy, and China sending drugs, test kits and supplies to illegally sanctioned Iran. It is, indeed a matter of great significance for Pakistan, especially in the context of our efforts to fight Covid-19 that the first head of state to visit China soon after that country brought the viral disease under control was President Dr. ArifAlvi. He went to China on a two-day (March 16-17) trip at the invitation of President Chinese President Xi Jinping. The President was accompanied by a Pakistani delegation including Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar and senior officials. The President held separate meetings with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and other Chinese leaders.Anumber of MoUs were also signed. This was President Alvi’s first visit to China, which was specifically aimed at conveying strong support and solidarity of Pakistan towards the government and the people of China in their battle against Covid-19. It is also highly significant what President Arif said before take- off from Pakistan: “My visit to China is meant to express solidarity on Covid-19 epidemic and also learn from Chinese experience to effectively handle the situation.” “The way China has fought the Corona Virus is an example for the world and Pakistan would also like to get an input about it.” Talking to media in Beijing Foreign Minister ShahMahmoodQureshithankedtheChineseleadership fortaking care and supportingthe Pakistani students. Earlier this week, recognizing the help Pakistan has received from China in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic Prime Minister Imran Khan said that China has given priority to Pakistan in this regard. “Pakistan is fortunate that China is giving us preference in provision of the equipment as they started controlling the outbreak,” PM Khan said. On 28 March an eightmember medical expert team organized by the Chinese government arrivedin Pakistanto help us fighttheCOVID19 pandemic. The day before, nearly two tons of medical supplies from China were successfully handed over to Pakistan at the Khunjerab pass in north Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region.The remarks ofChinese ForeignMinistry’s Spokesperson Hua Chunying which she made during her regular briefinginBeijing onMarch 30weremost revealing: “China would continueto give best helpto Pakistan againstCovid19 pandemic as both the countries have fine tradition of lending support and assistance to each other in the difficult time. “China and Pakistan are all weather strategic cooperative partners and iron friends. We have fine tradition of lending each other support and mutual assistance in the time of adversary,” she added. The spokesperson further said, in addition, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region had donated supplies to Pakistan while China’s renowned Alibaba Group also provided medical supplies. “Also, many friendly sister cities and provinces in China also donated the epidemic response and control materials to Pakistan and they are also joined by Red Cross Society,” she added. She pointed out that assistance and help extended by Chinese enterprises was also on the way, adding, “We will continue to provide our best possible help if necessary.” Pakistan has already received tons of protective gear and testing kits from China to contain the spread of Corona Virus. The continuing and unprecedented assistance from China via air and road comes at a critical time when Pakistan’s ill-equipped medical workers struggle to treat patients. “At least 2 tons of masks, test kits, ventilators, medical protective clothes worth Rs67 million [Dh1.5 million) were handed over [to Pakistani officials] at Khunjerab Pass”. Trucks full of medical supplies were unloaded at the border as the teams from both sides braved the harsh weather and snow. Meanwhile, a plane carrying 50,000 Corona Virus testing kits also arrived in Karachi on March 27. This was the second bulk consignment sent by China’sAlibaba and Jack Ma Foundation within days. On March 25, the foundation sent 500,000 surgical masks and 50,000 N95 respirators to Pakistan. On March 26, Yan Chen, managing director of Challenge Group of Companies from China called on Prime Minister Imran Khan to donate 15,000 protection suits for Pakistani doctors and paramedical staff on the frontline battling the pandemic. To meet the increasing demand for protective gear, China will help producethe protection suit in Lahore, said the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Yao Jing. Following Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar’s request, a Chinese university has also agreed to work with Pakistani medical experts to convert a university campus into a 1,000-bed field hospital. The field hospital would be set up in Lahore. The University would also work in collaboration with Pakistani scientists to develop testing kits and other equipment in Pakistan. The Chinese government is also sending a walk-through testing machine to Pakistan to diagnose a large number of suspected people for the novel Corona Virus. — The writer is veteran journalist and a former editor based in Islamabad.
