Coronavirus: Conspiracy Theories Or Conspiracy Actions?
A. Sivapathasundaram
Accusation against China on the origin, source and spread of the Coronavirus (or Covid-19, in medical jargon) – even though logically and rationally deduced or derived based on facts and the chronological events in front of us – are being dismissed by some individuals as well as by some authorities as speculation.
They quickly, easily term them as “Conspiracy Theories” and bucket them so, without further consideration, thought or evaluation.
Some do so because of their already entrenched opinions—some rightly formed too–against US, due to it being instrumental in aiding, abetting and perpetuating internal conflicts and destructive wars in certain countries for its own ends —for its objectives of world domination, geopolitical, strategic and economic interests, promotion of arms industries and expansion of its corporate conglomerates.
This anathema towards US has been further accentuated in some by their dislike for its current President, Donald Trump, added due to his lack of charisma, awkward demeanour, body language and his tendency to “shoot off from his hips” on and off with no care for anybody or anything.
Trump is not reflective of the usual image of a US President, especially him coming in to take over the reins of the country immediately following the charismatic Barack Obama and falling far short of the latter’s oratorical skills and demeanour.
I concur with their above perceptions of US and President Trump.
However, what I disagree with is the labelling or even the perception that if you condemn or question the actions of China, you are pro US and a lackey of US and, going further, that of Western imperialism.
And, let us not forget that US was always so and the Presidents elected in the recent past too, despite rhetoric and optimistic expectations of them, have mostly ended serving the same geopolitical, strategic, economic and financial objectives.
The only difference is that the previous presidents have taken cover in niceties of words –in what could be called ‘politico-speak’, or ‘political double-speak’ and well- behaved demeanour; whereas Trump is blunt, does not mince words or resort to niceties in his expressions. He falls far short in charisma, demeanour and oratorical skills.
Trump has to contend with the opposition Democrats, who would adopt strategies to dethrone him in the impending Presidential elections in November and in that process denounce him and his policies, statements and actions; China’s President Xi Jinpeng (who is said to be ‘Life-time- President’—an anachronism!) — do not have these political compulsions and limitations, thrusts and pulls to contend with.
Trump is also symptomatic of an acute dearth of true leaders and leadership nowadays in many so called democratic countries, to whom one can look up to as a model and who really take the people of their countries in particular, and humanity in general, towards, peace, prosperity and progress. Most of them are crooked and are veterans in duplicity and hypocrisy — “playing for the gallery” with cheap populism, blinding the people with ignorance in order to attain and remain in power, also shamelessly extending undue positions and privileges for their families, cohorts and sycophants. — all at the expense of the long-term interest and welfare of the country and the people.
Where I would depart is from the attitude and actions of those who while they justifiably condemn US and its President, directly or indirectly condone China and rush to ignore or absolve it of any wrong doings.
Both US & China aren’t saints!
If US is considered as a “wolf”, China is “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” — both competing for the same objectives. Only the paths and tactics adopted are different – that of US is sometimes covert but mostly overt, and that of China always covert and ever subtle.
One can easily identify a wolf and take protective measures from being devoured, but it is very difficult to see through the designs of a wolf in sheep’s clothing—and only once entrapped in full in its claws, we would realise that it is also a wolf, not easy or even possible to extricate ourselves from it.
US does its expansion on the ideology of democracy and free enterprise; China does it by an autocratic set-up of governance with a life-time President and a compliant and sycophantic politburo under the cover of ideology of its own brand of perverted communism, and trampling democratic norms and institutions.
US interferes in other countries and exploits on the pretext of democracy and restoration of human rights for its own ends; hina, on the other hand, having no constraints of a free media or democratic institutions, seeks and props up corrupt and greedy leaders of countries which have been rendered poor by their own leaders (and side-lined by US for some reasons) to achieve the same ends as US. It sets firm foot through enormous bribes and long-terms debts that tie these countries so as to be compliant and submissive to its interests, that include opening its doors unreservedly for its products, people, and transport, including its unhindered access to their military ships and aircrafts. China, in addition, while exploiting the natural resources and assets with the aid of the corrupt leaders to its advantage, also mostly employs its own people as labour force in their projects in other countries including in those that they fund through their loans. It is not a natural mobility but an organised movement of people by a government, despite availability of labour of that sort in the respective countries, in the name of efficiency; but indirectly getting back some part of their investment and the advantageous spin-off effects of having its people in large numbers in other countries.
US engineers regime changes to serve its interests; China sustains corrupt regimes for the same purposes.
There is production and proliferation of arms and ammunitions and the building of armed might by US; so is by China.
China is involved in the tests on sophisticated atomic weapons in its province of Jinjiang as does US in its territory.
US supports Israel and deploys its armed might to intimidate and exert its domination in the Middle Eastern countries; China supports Pakistan, a country run effectively by military junta, even helping to enhancing latter’s atomic warfare capabilities and propping it up in order to dent India which acts a bulwark against China’s expansionism. Also, China deploys its military might in South China Seas intimidating India, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and other countries of the Far East, jeopardising peace, security and stability in that region.
To US, Cuba is its sworn enemy and determined not to allow to raise its head; to China it is Taiwan, determined to trample it.
They both aren’t saints!
–Wrong is wrong, Evil is evil—be it West, East, North or South!
The moral dilemma that one is faced with in modern times is that one is given the choice of not between “right” and “wrong” but, “two wrongs”. Unfortunately, therefore, when one opposes or rejects one wrong, it is construed and labelled as support to the other wrong! – A precarious position indeed!
Need for Impartiality & Objectivity
Therefore, irrespective of our notions of US and its leaders or the West or China or Russia, or any country for that matter, there is an imperative need for impartial and objective analysis by each and every one whose “souls are not yet sold”.
This earth continues to suffer a dearth of proper thinking and necessary actions to follow up with, because of the propaganda, falsehood and lies that are continuously heaped on every aspect of our lives through the power of money and the capacity for reach through propaganda.
We do not know whether we are dismissing the truths as falsehoods or accepting falsehoods as truths.
It is easy and comfortable to dismiss as coincidences or conspiracy theories, even those matters that have to be further given thoughts and contemplation.
We do it at our own peril and the peril of the humanity as a whole! The danger is, the real victim is the “truth” –the urge, the search for the truth and getting at it is denied!
Some Questions to Ponder
