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It is 20th May, Valentines’ Day in China
while it faces unprecedented display of rejection by rest of the world
China has a bad rep recently.
A mysterious virus was first discovered in a wet market in Wuhan the disputed epicentre of the novel corona-virus. In early January during Chinese New Year, travellers of the festive season did not help by spreading the virus across the mainland, quickly forcing the Chinese government to lockdown the cities in what was deemed a draconian attempt to curb the virus then. The de-facto cover-up stance of the Chinese government began in full throttle to save its top priority — face. But backlash grew out of hand, especially fuelled by a whistle-blower's death. In an attempt to appease the masses, the Chinese government changed its propaganda from cover-up to solidarity, this time promising an inquiry to the doctor’s death and hailing the frontliners as national heroes.
As if fighting an enemy larger than life isn’t enough, China also had to face the US-China trade tension, Hong Kong protests, Taiwan’s claim to sovereignty, and most recently the world in the World Health Assembly’s virtual summit.
Today, 20th of May, or “520”(wǔ èr lǐng) as the catchphrase and phonetic onomatopoeia of 我爱你(wǒ aì nǐ), may be the time for doe-eyed youngster to confess their love…
