China: Coronavirus and Loss of Freedoms

By Richard Pulsifer

The book examines; the origin of the coronavirus, history and theories, the loss of freedoms for Tibetan Buddhists, Uyghurs, the people of Hong Kong and Christians throughout China. Views are included from Chinese sources, scholars living among the people, and congressional testimony as well as other reporting.

With the Omicron variant of COVID-19 still hanging around in the United States and China it is essential that we review the past. We see a pattern of bureaucratic delay in reporting from four months with SARS 2003, to only a few months with COVID-19. However, the shorter time still allowed for spread of the virus through China, and the world. Possibilities exist that the virus was around as early as October, and lab reports of infected patients were sent to hospitals in December confirmed human-to-human spread. Both theories of animal to human spread, and lab leak remain viable today.

The loss of freedoms includes the attack on the cultures of Tibetans by the de-emphasis of Tibetan language in schools. It further took the form of a stabilization program where thousands of informers were sent to monasteries and mosques. Tibetan resistance took the form of immolations. For the Uyghurs, a few “terrorist” events were met with “reeducation”, cruel imprisonment as confirmed by Chinese officials. In Hong Kong , the right to decide for themselves was taken away with a new law forbidding demonstrations, punishing pro-democracy demonstrators, and requiring Communist Party approval of all candidates for Hong Kong’s parliament. Over a few decades, the crosses of churches have been removed, some churches that required some minor repair were totally destroyed, and all others were required to install cameras. Religious symbols in the homes were to be replaced with photos or other symbols of Mao or Xi Jinping.

The United States is not without means of addressing these issues. To address the coronavirus, a symposium might be established to include principle theories of animal transfer and lab leak. Steps may also be recommended to China and the WHO to monitor more closely wild animal farms and the markets where they are sold. Regarding lab leak, major labs especially those dealing with gain of function research may add increased safety and monitoring measures.

Turning to the loss of freedoms, the United States might want to take further steps of the Magninsky Act to add further more names of oppressors to the list. In addition greater awareness is needed of products being manufactured through forced labor from shirts through sneakers. Those companies that are contributing to sophisticated monitoring equipment should be informed of how they are empowering China in the area of surveillance. Finally, more Christians and others should participate in programs where there is a listening ear such as teaching during the Summer English Program, and also to donate bibles.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664261907

Richard Pulsifer

The author was raised in Newport News, Virginia where he attended public schools. After graduation he joined the United States Air Force and learned Chinese Mandarin. After service he attended The American University and received a BA degree in economics. He then had a career with the Defense Intelligence Agency retiring in 1989 to attend Southeastern Seminary and received a Master of Divinity degree. While at DIA he was active in to Toastmaster International, improving his speaking and leadership skills. After a short visit to China he followed up with visits to deliver bibles and teach English as a second language. He has previously written articles for the Oxford Public Ledger, and completed an ancestry study which was published for close relatives.

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Copyright © 2022 Richard Pulsifer.

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Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6189-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6191-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6190-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022905639

WestBow Press rev. date: 6/25/2022

CONTENTS

Preface

Chapter 1 China: Coronavirus, and the Loss of Freedoms

Chapter 2 Coronavirus

Chapter 3 The Loss of Freedoms

Chapter 4 Conclusion

PREFACE

The purpose for writing this short book is to inform the readers of the excesses of the Chinese Communist Party in its denial for responsibility for developing COVID-19, the suppression of the freedom of Chinese citizen and their beliefs – the Tibetan Buddhist, the Uyghurs and Christians.

A wide range of sources have been utilized and were essential to the book’s completion. These include scholars who wrote in scientific journals, private and governmental organizations that informed congress, and researches who have spent years working on projects in China. In addition the Virginian includes his observations from numerous trips and short stays in China.

In this era of hypercritical politics it is recommended that the reader set aside any potential bias. Readers who have scientific training might refer to each of the studies referenced which were referred to as abstracts, or brief references about certain sections or in the conclusions. The book was written so that the general public would be informed.

I would like to thank my wife Kitty for postponing the To Do List, and her sister Lynda (Faye) Creutzberg for reviewing some of the text. The staff of the Richard Thornton Library in Oxford, North Carolina especially Dr. Jacquelin Sneed, and Historian Mark Pace were very helpful.

I hope that the reader comes away with an appreciation for the macro approach by an insecure Chinese Communist Party. They tend to punish those who in the most part pose no real threat to it. Also, working together with the people and achieving positive results is more noble than having cadre at each level to gum up the works. This slows and hampers progress. In the case of a new virus, it delayed their nation’s and the world responses.

CHAPTER 1

China: Coronavirus, and the Loss of Freedoms

Introducing Meeting Li Meixin

Over forty years ago a new and welcoming relationship was established between China and the United States. President Nixon and Secretary of State Kissinger met with Chinese leaders Premier Mao Zedong, and Zhou Enlai. Later Premier Teng Xiaoping and President Jimmy Carter worked together for better relations. This was totally different from the cold war years since 1949. Premier Teng donned a cowboy hat while visiting a dude ranch out west. Many other Chinese officials also came on that historic visit. There was a great deal of optimism, and hope between the two countries.

During the same year, a group of American tourists were able to visit China under a Canadian visa. In the group were Iowa corn farmers, a Japanese- American couple, a former editor for Fortune magazine and his wife, a couple from Virginia, five to ten other Americans, and a few Canadians who helped guide the tour. It was one of the very first trips to China for some time.

The Iowa corn farmers were there to convince the Chinese of the nutritional value of corn. Traditionally, corn was grown only to feed the pigs. We can see how successful the farmers were by the large contracts for corn on Aug 3, 2020 China was to purchase nearly two million metric tons of Iowa corn. The entire group wanted to visit the amazing sites in Beijing; the Forbidden City, Tienanmen Square, Summer Palace, the Peking Opera, and The Great Wall.

Many other historic cities were visited Xi An, Chungking for example. What sticks out most to the Virginian is a visit to one the very first free markets located in Lubing. It was a small village outside of Chengdu. Along the way red peppers for renowned Szechuan delicacies were on the side of the road drying in the heat of the day. Farmers were just recently allowed to bring crops for sale. This was a big change in policy from the old commune days. The market was just like any typical vegetable market at home.

At first arrival, there was a good crowd of folks. When we left it was so crowded we had a hard time squeezing through. In front of us was a six- year old boy, I call him Li Meixin. He was so happy. As he ran forward he smiled and exclaimed Meikuo ren lai, Meikuo ren lai meaning Americans are coming, Americans are coming. Meikuo means beautiful country. He gave the Virginian an impression of great hope for the future between our countries.

This six- year old child was happy to see that the Americans had come. They were to bring in KFC, McDonalds, but also manufacturing attracted by low cost labor. Trading with China met the American thirst for inexpensive Chinese goods. In return, Americans acquired an enormous trade deficit while China has become very prosperous.

We look from the eyes of Li Meixin, the child previously mentioned. How would he be viewing more recent developments in China as an adult? Over forty years have past since this visit. The Virginian imagines that the six year old’s parents had moved to Chengdu. Li graduated middle school. He then attended Wuhan University for his graduate and doctorate.

The Virginian would like to tell you a little more about that child. While the child’s real name is unknown, he is called Li Meixin which means Li Beautiful Hope. His progression through life is a composite of multiple students the Virginian has since met. Some welcomed their teacher into their homes. One played the piano, another introduced him to a new baby. Many times there were opportunities to enjoy the families and share a meal. Li’s loyalty is represented by one youth who somehow used his computer to reach the Virginian by phone. He would later stop by the Virginian’s English classes to say hello. He did this even though he had acquired a very responsible position as an adult. Doctor Li is a reflection of many doctor friends in Lanzhou.

As a graduate of Wuhan University, he may have been one of the thousands of doctors who came to help with the COVID-19 Wuhan pandemic. The world is in the grips of the world’s worst pandemic in history where over six million have died. It is altogether fitting that we address the origin of COVID-19 so that future events may be better controlled. This book is written not to cast blame, but to hope for changes that can be made to improve the lot of the Chinese people. By mutually better understanding the virus we will be better able to control the next outbreak.

Dr. Li Meixin is probably aware of the Uyghurs of Sinjiang, and Tibetans in western China since he is from around the western city of Chengdu. He probably is not aware of the oppression, reeducation, and their