You make an excellent point. We must of course exercise caution when taking data from the horse's mouth. I certainly wouldn't want to give the impression that I admire the containment strategy of the PRC. But, as a one-party state, they are 'playing on easy mode', for lack of a more sensitive term. It must be somewhat easier to contain an outbreak when you can simply ban people from going where they please under threat of force. I wish that some of my Australian countrymen were less inclined to fawn over the PRC's draconian measures as though they were worthy of emulation.
if we continue to dissect the chinese authoritative regime, you are right, that they have more tools in their arsenal to contain the epidemy, but they failed in the critical initial stage, when the epidemy started. the combinations of suspicion towards their subjects (there is no infection, only dissidents are trying to mess up our brave new world) and of trying not to loose the face (cos we cannot admit we started it) produced very similar political failure as this of clueless demo regimes later.
honestly, it was a quite a sad coincidence of circumstances - absence of proper legal background for food business in china (almost no regulations at; being an analytical biochemist, i know it from my friends who work in food analysis and regulations), by faaaar different level of urbanisation and market culture in china, their rigid authoritative/totalitarian regime, overall unregulated traveling (not that i cry for its regulation, but it gives us this kinda payback), increasing political populism in demo countries and generally increasing distrust for official institutions (including medical science). it is a toxin cocktail, which accumulated over time and became a founding ground for covid-19.
and in the light of this, i really admire people fighting it directly (nurses, docs, whole rescue system), cos despite what is or might be wrong, they go on. my bro and sister-in-law are nurses who are directly involved, so to them too!
sorry, if i am annoying, the steam must be vented
