One World – Global Think Tank

Modern-Day Piracy

7 APRIL 2020

 Zamir Ahmed Awan

The US response was rather desperate and selfish. Post-pandemic, its consequences may appear obvious. Reliability on the US may take a turn, and dependency on NATO may become less. Among the EU, there might be challenge to keep unity or current status. The US may also not maintain the status quo for a longer time. The whole scenario of geopolitics may reshape.

The Guardian reported on 4 April, 2020, "US accused of 'modern piracy' after diversion of masks meant for Europe."

Contagious CORONA-19, although it is comparatively less fatal than the previous pandemics like SARS, Ebola, MERC, etc., yet has created more fear and panic. Especially in the US, who were relaxing and enjoying when China was facing an outbreak. They were over-engaged in bashing, blaming, and defaming China. They used derogatory remarks about China and officially termed it "opportunity."

The US delayed the actions and wasted the crucial time. When they realized the intensity of the outbreak in the US, it was quite late, and the situation became rather serious. Till date, there is no cure, no medicines, and no vaccine for COVID-19. The only prevention available is social distance and hygienic habits. Appropriate food may enhance immunity and resistance against pandemic.

At the public level, a vast panic is witnessed; people are stocking food, hygienic, and protective materials. There exists a severe shortage of some of these items. People are quarreling and arguing with each other. Some cases of theft and lootings were also reported.

In fear and panic, people are buying guns and ammunition. They predict a civil war-like situation. Suspension of flights and restriction on travel has aggregated the situation further. The country is facing a shortage of masks, testing kits, ventilators, and hygienic materials.

Although the government has taken several measures like allocation of $2 trillion budget, and asked industry to produce the vitally needed products under pandemic. Automobile manufacturing companies are focused on manufacturing of ventilators etc. It is expected, over a while, the American Industry will produce enough masks, ventilators, testing kits, and hygienic materials.

Scientists around the globe are working on finding a cure or medicine or vaccine for COVID-19. Trust, hard work of scientists-community will be fruitful soon.

Government is also in panic & confusion. President Trump is issuing conflicting remarks about the cure of pandemic, etc. But the recent story published in "The Guardian" on 4 April, 2020, has surprised the whole world.

The US was world Leader and supposed to care for the whole world. When the outbreak happened in China, it was expected that the global community would extend all possible cooperation to overcome pandemic. Notably, the US is the largest economy, the most advanced country in science, technology, and innovations, and our expectations were high accordingly.

After China, the situation in the EU become dangerous, especially among the NATO countries, a close ally with the US. It was again expected that the US would understand its responsibility and outreached immediately.

Unfortunately, the US response was rather desperate and selfish. Post-pandemic, its consequences may appear obvious. Reliability on the US may take a turn, and dependency on NATO may become less. Among the EU, there might be challenge to keep unity or current status. The US may also not maintain the status quo for a longer time. The whole scenario of geopolitics may reshape.

Pandemic is an issue for all mankind and should have been dealt with on a humanity basis. Keeping the politics aside, we should have outreached to rescue human lives in any part of the world. Irrespective of race, religion, or ethnicity, we must respect human beings. The only way to address such pandemic is collective efforts. Many individual countries may not have sufficient resources or capacity to face the challenges.

Viruses do not recognize boundaries, do not differentiate between poor or rich, leaders or common men. Viruses do not discriminate. Why do we?

By Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan

Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan

(本文章用机器软件翻译的。很可能不准确。请参考原版英文的。 谢谢)

一个世界-全球智囊团

现代的海盗

2020年4月7日，

泽米尔·艾哈迈德·阿万

美国的反应相当绝望和自私。大流行后，其后果可能显而易见。对美国的依赖可能会发生转变，对北约的依赖可能会减少。在欧盟内部，保持统一或现状可能会面临挑战。美国可能也不会在较长时间内维持现状。整个地缘政治格局可能会重塑。

《卫报》在2020年4月4日报道，“美国被指控‘现代海盗’，因为他们把原本要运往欧洲的面具转移了。”

传染性冠状病毒-19，虽然相对于以前的大流行如SARS、埃博拉、MERC等，它的致死率较低，但却造成了更多的恐惧和恐慌。特别是在美国，当中国面临疫情爆发时，他们正在放松和享受。他们过度地抨击、指责和诽谤中国。他们使用贬损中国的言论，并将其正式称为“机遇”。

美国推迟了行动，浪费了关键的时间。当他们意识到在美国爆发的强度时，已经很晚了，情况变得相当严重。迄今为止，还没有治愈，没有药物，也没有针对COVID-19的疫苗。唯一可用的预防方法是社会距离和卫生习惯。适当的食物可增强免疫力和对大流行的抵抗力。

在公众层面，出现了巨大的恐慌;人们正在储备食品、卫生和防护材料。这些物品中有一些严重短缺。人们在争吵。还报告了一些盗窃和抢劫案件。

在恐惧和恐慌中，人们开始购买枪支和弹药。他们预测会出现类似内战的局面。停飞和限制旅行使情况进一步恶化。该国正面临口罩、检测设备、通风设备和卫生材料短缺的问题。

虽然政府已经采取了一些措施，如分配2万亿美元的预算，并要求行业生产至关重要的产品，在大流行。汽车制造企业以风机等产品为主。预计在一段时间内，美国工业将生产足够的口罩、通风设备、测试设备和卫生材料。

世界各地的科学家正在努力寻找治疗或药物或疫苗的COVID-19。相信，科学家们的辛勤工作很快就会有成果的。

政府也处于恐慌和混乱之中。特朗普总统就流感大流行的治疗发表了自相矛盾的言论。但最近发表在2020年4月4日的《卫报》上的故事却震惊了全世界。

美国是世界领袖，理应关心整个世界。当疫情在中国爆发时，人们期望国际社会能够提供一切可能的合作来克服大流行。值得注意的是，美国是世界上最大的经济体，在科学、技术和创新方面最先进的国家，我们对美国的期望也很高。

在中国之后，欧盟的形势变得危险起来，尤其是在与美国关系密切的北约国家之间。人们再次预计，美国将理解自己的责任，并立即伸出援手。

不幸的是，美国的反应相当绝望和自私。大流行后，其后果可能显而易见。对美国的依赖可能会发生转变，对北约的依赖可能会减少。在欧盟内部，保持统一或现状可能会面临挑战。美国可能也不会在较长时间内维持现状。整个地缘政治格局可能会重塑。

大流行是全人类的问题，应该在人道主义的基础上加以处理。撇开政治不谈，我们应该主动去拯救世界上任何地方的生命。不论种族、宗教或族裔，我们都必须尊重人。应对这一流行病的唯一途径是集体努力。许多国家可能没有足够的资源或能力来应对这些挑战。

病毒不分国界，不分贫富贵贱，不分领袖贵贱。病毒不会区别对待。我们为什么?

教授同上。Zamir Ahmed Awan

中国学者(前外交官)，编辑，分析师，巴基斯坦伊斯兰堡国立科技大学中国与全球化中心非驻地研究员