Published on February 5, 2020.
This article discusses an essay by Takeuchi Kumiko published in the Sankei Shimbun, focusing on the delayed WHO emergency declaration over the novel pneumonia outbreak, the relationship between Director-General Tedros and China, China’s growing influence over international organizations, and Japan’s historic mistake in rescuing China after the Tiananmen Square incident.
It argues that Japan should reconsider inviting President Xi Jinping as a state guest, recognize the reality of China’s information control and international infiltration, and stop China’s runaway expansion.

2020-02-05
Did China feel gratitude for this?
Not at all.
Perhaps recognizing that the Japanese were foolish and easy to deceive, China even began anti-Japanese education.
The following is from an essay by animal behavior researcher and essayist Takeuchi Kumiko, published in the Sankei Shimbun under the title “Novel Pneumonia and the WHO Under China’s Influence.”
As I have mentioned many times, she too, along with Miyawaki Junko and others, is a person worthy of the intellect that studied at Kyoto University.
Needless to say, she too is one of the “national treasures” as defined by Saicho.
I live near one of the five most famous tourist spots in Kyoto.
For more than the past ten years, when I go out during the day, I hear Chinese more often than Japanese.
Even at the supermarket I use every day, tourists from that country shop quite normally.
Though This Is a Situation Where Every Moment Counts
For that reason, the news of the novel pneumonia now shaking the entire world is not someone else’s problem at all.
On January 31, news of a small step forward arrived.
On January 28, a cabinet order was decided to designate the novel pneumonia as a “designated infectious disease,” but because this order carries penalties, its enforcement was set for February 7.
In a situation where every moment counts, what on earth is this? I was unable to contain my indignation, but the enforcement date was moved forward to February 1.
This made it possible to deny entry to infected persons, and even when infection could not be confirmed, border-control management was strengthened.
Also, on January 24, regarding travel to China, Hubei Province was raised to Level 3, meaning “Do not travel,” a travel cancellation advisory, and on the 31st, the other provinces were raised to Level 2, meaning “Avoid nonessential and nonurgent travel.”
At the same time, however, in the United States, where the risk should have been far lower than in Japan, the travel level for China became 4, the highest level, meaning “Do not travel.”
After that, entry by visitors to China was also banned.
Compared with the United States, how lukewarm Japan is, I thought, and I was again indignant.
However, what made me even more indignant, to the point that my hair almost stood on end in anger, was that the enforcement of Japan’s cabinet order on “designated infectious diseases,” the raising of travel advisory levels, and the United States’ travel ban were all in response to the WHO’s declaration of an “emergency,” and that declaration came far too late.
Given a situation of this magnitude, why did it not issue an “emergency declaration” much earlier?
Regrettably, this is because WHO Director-General Tedros is from Ethiopia, and it is pointed out that Chinese money was behind the rise of this man, who had been health minister in Ethiopia, to his current position.
Director-General Tedros visited China on January 28, in the midst of the uproar, and many people must have seen the photograph of him shaking hands with President Xi Jinping with a broad smile on his face.
Quiet Invasion of International Organizations
China is not only selling favors to Director-General Tedros, but also to the state of Ethiopia and to many developing countries, including those in Africa, through extraordinary investments.
It may be said that the WHO, the United Nations, and most international institutions have been virtually taken over by China.
In fact, none other than Japan created the greatest cause of China’s economic development, military expansion, and the kind of “quiet invasion” seen this time in the WHO.
Because of the human-rights oppression and armed suppression in the Tiananmen Square incident of 1989, China was abandoned by the world.
Exchanges were cut off, and economic sanctions were imposed.
However, it was Japan that quickly extended a helping hand.
Japan lifted economic sanctions, and in 1992 even realized the visit to China by His Majesty the Emperor, now the Emperor Emeritus.
Did China feel gratitude for this?
Not at all.
Perhaps recognizing that the Japanese were foolish and easy to deceive, China even began anti-Japanese education.
We Japanese must deeply reflect on the fact that it was Japan that assisted China’s world invasion.
If that is the case, inviting President Xi as a state guest this spring is out of the question.
If that were realized, His Majesty the Emperor would also have no choice but to visit China, and the nightmare would return.
The Attitude Japanese People Should Take
Not only that, Japan and the Japanese people would be increasingly looked down upon and lose credibility in the eyes of the world.
There may be some circumstances surrounding the invitation of President Xi as a state guest, but surely the most important issue is the credibility of Japan and the Japanese people.
Regarding this novel pneumonia, the nature of the Chinese state—its concealment and careless management—is being severely questioned, and I think it may even lead to the collapse of the Chinese Communist Party.
A video uploaded by a young man living in Wuhan, who did so with the resolve that he might be taken away by public security authorities, has become a topic of discussion.
According to him, no one was wearing masks until the day before Wuhan was sealed off.
In other words, information about this pneumonia had been concealed.
He also says that Chinese people in their twenties and thirties are not brainwashed and are not fools.
They are not deceived by the government’s lies.
Young people are dissatisfied with the government and want to change the current situation.
Finally, through this video, he appeals to people throughout the world to put pressure of public opinion on the Chinese government and make it bear responsibility.
Exactly right!
Now is the time for Japan to make up for its past failure.
Unlike the time of Tiananmen, anyone can now send messages through SNS, social networking services, and participate in forming public opinion.
The novel pneumonia is an all too unfortunate event, but let us take this opportunity to recognize the reality of China’s information control and international encroachment, and stop its runaway expansion.