Nations build their reputation with good image, military and economic strength. In today's world, at least in 2020, the year of the outbreak of the new Corona virus, the force of persuasion is more important than military.
Not surprisingly, the epidemic quickly turned into a war of images and propaganda. President Donald Trump, for example, insists on describing the epidemic as "the Chinese virus." For its part, Chinese propaganda is rewriting history and making the virus born in Italy. If the cure for the epidemic comes from China, it will be the biggest blow to American hegemony since the Russians sent the first man into space.
China is making great efforts in medical diplomacy, and it is already providing human and material resources to the rest of the world. Beijing, not Washington or Europe, supplied medical supplies to Italy. Canada will receive millions of masks from China, a response to Gemayel, after Canadian aid to Wuhan in February. And even China has made efforts to send thousands of ventilators to New York State, the American center of Coved 19. To meet the needs, China increased its daily production of masks fivefold over the past month.
At the heart of this very new and cold war is a vaccine race. Chinese scientists have made a good impression, by spreading the genome of the virus quickly. It is a way to show China's leadership, while the United States closes borders to foreigners. So, the Chinese discovery of the vaccine against Corona would give Beijing the most powerful weapon in this diplomatic war. In addition to reputation, many believe that the country that first discovers the treatment, will control the scene in the short term. Such a possibility could be another milestone in what many already call the decline of the American empire. The current crisis will damage the reputation of the United States. It will also highlight some of its biggest weaknesses.
Potential isolation
Over the past few years, Americans have lost their appetite on the international stage, scientifically and economically. When HIV first appeared, as it did during the 2008 economic crisis, attention turned to the United States to organize the international response. Today, Americans have chosen a president who during his campaign focused on national identity and promised to end globalization. America resembles those dominant empires in the past, which have become unable to control all of its vast lands. Meanwhile, China has increased its investment in international diplomacy, for example, its contributions to the United Nations, its investment in peace forces, and its cultural presence through Confucius institutes, in various parts of the world.
Lack of equality
Not all Americans benefit from well-being equally, with a large proportion living in precarious conditions, and the private health system limits access to care. With a majority of Americans with insurance through their employers, the wave of layoffs on quarantine is a matter of concern. The American system is also very decentralized, which limits the ability of the state to implement clear directives by a series of independent bodies. Indeed, African Americans make up a third of hospital admissions, while they make up only 13% of the total population. This gap is also evident in mortality, and the United States remains one of the few industrialized countries that do not offer sick leave. In short, in the face of a potential infection, many Americans, who are not entitled to paid leave and are afraid of losing their jobs, will go to work and help spread this epidemic.
Resource Management
Americans increased their military spending significantly after September 11, 2001, and since the states had limited budgets, other sectors were underfunded during the same period, and science and research were among the sectors affected, for example, the infection control budget was cut by a third, since 2010. In the same year, China surpassed the United States in the number of researchers. Ironically, in May 2018, the Trump administration abolished the emergency preparedness office in an attempt to reduce costs. It appears that the richest country has sinned the enemy, and the armor will be useless, at a time when the energy of the health system has been exhausted, and this epidemic may help to rearrange American priorities. Perhaps there will only be an opportunity for Americans to question their clear destiny in facing the countries that managed to manage the situation better, treated their patients better and lined up together behind the leaders who were the most unifying of their peoples.
If the pandemic treatment comes from China, it will be the biggest blow to American hegemony since the Russians sent the first man into space.
Americans increased their military spending significantly after September 11, 2001, and since the states had limited budgets, other sectors were underfunded during the same period, and science and research were among the sectors affected, for example, the infection control budget was cut by a third, since In the year 2010.
Not all Americans benefit from well-being equally, with a large proportion living in precarious conditions , and the private health system limits access to care.