Should the Chinese government be made to pay?

[Likethebattle]

Amig had been suggested that the Chinese government covered up the seriousness of covid19 to begin with and delayed alerting the WHO. They apparently let thousands of people leave the country knowingly infecting the rest of the world with a deadly virus.

If this is true can they be held accountable and made to pay damages to other countries? We face a recession due to their actions.

Fuck this forum is tedious at times.

GhostofFrankGrimes

Must be really nauseating for the right that a so called communist country is feeding the wests capitalist machine. Dont bite the hand that feeds you.

Just as it should be nauseating to the left that communists are - once again! - fucking up the entire world.

Or it would be if they had any capacity for introspection...

Many countries across the world consume bushmeat, which includes bats and primates. If you or your kids are hungry, you eat what you can. Bat is a common food on many Pacific islands such as Fiji.

Ten years ago you could buy monkey in London, even though this was illegal.

If you or your kids are hungry, you eat what you can
That's very true. I don't think anyone is judging poor parents for doing the best they can.
China is a global force though, with trade links around the world. It's not an undeveloped third world country. It's their responsibility to ensure that their citizens have enough food to eat, in a safe manner. Safe not just for their own citizens but safe for the rest of the world also.
No I don't think the Chinese government should be forced to 'pay' as in pay compensation, but they must do whatever is necessary to prevent any further pandemics originating in China.

I know we should all stand up for ourselves, but I worry that the world ganging up on China like this could lead to something much more catastrophic than COVID in the first place...

Yes because extracting reparations from a nationalistic regime looking to expand their global power always goes so well!

Seriously, a lot of clever global diplomacy is needed right now, not sabre rattling and justice seeking.

This issue has nothing to do with poverty. The more exotic meats that could be found in wildlife markets (these markets have now been banned and are the same as wet markets) were purchased by extremely wealthy Chinese and not eaten by those on low incomes.
I have been offered shark fin soup and turtle at very expensive dinners where the objective is to impress guests.
The meat sold in China in supermarkets/ wet markets is no different (except more offal is available) than anywhere else: chicken, pork - all very standard. Dog is eaten in some areas, but that is also not unique to China.

Just as it should be nauseating to the left that communists are - once again! - fucking up the entire world.

Communists that the west, particuarly Britain have been reliant on since the 80's when the Tories embraced globalisation at the expense of UK manufacturing. Self awareness never was a right wing strongpoint.

Punishing China would be counterproductive, it didn't work with Germany after WW1.

The caveat to that would be if China made or allowed the virus to escape from a lab but even then it is better to work with China than to try and exact revenge.
An unstable China won't do any of any good.

Personally, i do think we should be slightly more self reliant, its one thing having our trainers or phones made in China, quite another to have critical supplies like PPE or medicines/med equipment made there, Germany seems to have the right balance.