China analysts believe these countries’ close political and economic relations with the Chinese regime led them to enact ineffective disease prevention policies—as they became more concerned about offending the Chinese regime or disrupting economic interests in China.

Bruce Lui, lecturer at the journalism department of Hong Kong Baptist University, said:
“Because these countries are highly integrated with China, they are almost unguarded to some extent.”

Italy, the most heavily-affected country outside China as of March 10, was the first G-7 nation to sign onto China’s One Belt, One Road initiative. In an attempt to prop up its weakening economy, Italy has also sought to capture the Chinese market for selling its luxury goods.

With the outbreak, such prospects have been put on hold.

Italy has also signed 74 sister-city agreements with China–Milan, Venice, and Bergamo included among them. These are the regions hardest-hit by the virus.

In South Korea, the public has grown increasingly critical of President Moon Jae-in for refusing to ban Chinese tourists at large from entering the country—only barring entry for those who recently traveled to Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak in China. 1.46 million people have signed a petition to the Presidential Blue House calling for Moon to be impeached. The petitioner wrote: “Seeing Moon Jae-in’s response to the new epidemic, I feel that he is more of a President for China than Korea.”

Iran has also seen a surge in the number of infections, particularly among its government officials. Iran has had a comprehensive strategic partnership with China since 2016. In violation of international sanctions, Iran has imported embargoed materials from China, while Iran continues to sell oil to China.

Meanwhile, Iran allowed flights in and out of China’s four major cities until the end of February.

Analyst Heng He said: “The inefficiency in disease prevention can be traced back to policies. These hard-hit countries have a tight relationship with the Chinese regime. Their political and economical policies outweigh the needs of disease prevention. Some are deceived by the lies of the Chinese regime, and others deliberately turn a blind eye.”

In contrast, Taiwan has seen a relatively small number of infections, despite its proximity to mainland China. On Jan. 26, John Hopkins University identified Taiwan as the second-highest risk of epidemic spread outside China. However, robust preventive measures proved its effectiveness. Taiwan officials began to board planes and assess passengers on December 31, 2019, after Wuhan authorities first confirmed the outbreak. In early February, Taiwan banned foreign nationals who have traveled to China. To date, there are 45 confirmed cases in Taiwan.

Heng He: “These measures were adapted earlier than all other countries. It is also because Taiwan has a clear understanding of the Communist regime. Taiwan may be the only state that has learned lessons from the 2003 SARS outbreak. Taiwan is fully prepared to implement the measures. Having been rejected by the World Health Organization (WHO), the isolated Taiwan is free of being misled by it. Taiwan also distrusts the Chinese regime’s propaganda and data. Well, these [factors] have prevented the virus outbreak in Taiwan. Taiwan’s experience is clear. Only by understanding the Chinese Communist Party and staying away from it, can countries set the foundation to fight this pandemic. In other words, God helps those who help themselves.”

In the era of globalization, it’s challenging for the leader of every country to use their political wisdom, discretion and judgment to avoid making wrong decisions that affects the rest of the world.

Upon the severe economic impact of the coronavirus epidemic, the communist regime demands that the nation return to work while it continues its lockdown policy. From March 1, the regime imposed an unprecedented internet blockage. Many Wuhan residents have not been able to get help for the past 40 days, and it continues.

The Epoch Times interviewed a Wuhan resident trapped at home for 40 days. Aid is not available. With two young children, money running out, door nailed shut from outside, even though they are not infected. The despair is hard to imagine.
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Mr. Pan: Basically, my savings are almost used up. I have to find someone to borrow money from when it’s gone. The food is so expensive. I can’t even go out to beg in the street. No one is on the street!

Journalist: You can’t go out, right?

Mr. Pan: Right. The door is nailed shut completely.

Journalist: Do they deliver the groceries?

Mr. Pan: There are two separate issues. The first one is that food is quite expensive. Second, where does money or finance come from? There’s no money. Who can afford it? Who would sell to you? The third one, go begging. I was ready to beg for food, I would take my family out to beg for food. But how? I can’t even go out.

Mr. Pan: I am not ill. I have made it clear. My dad is infected. Not me, I am normal. Why can’t I have the right to live? Who can tell me? I’m in the house every day now. What can I do? Wait for death?

Journalist: This is inhumane to trap people at home.

Mr. Pan: This is the situation now. Has anyone called me and asked after me? No one cares about us. I haven’t seen one grain of rice from relief aid, let alone anything else. What donations? What disaster relief? Nothing! I have two children and we have not received even a grain of rice!

Journalist: How can people live like that?

Mr. Pan: It is not just me, I have asked around, it’s the same for everyone else. No one has received a grain of rice. So what is the government doing? Today is the 40th day, and it will be another forty days.

Is the epidemic still so serious that it has to be closed for another 40 days?

Mr. Pan: I don’t know. No one has reported about the epidemic. If the epidemic was not serious, the door would be open! The logic is very simple. Open the door, let everyone out to live a normal life? Nail up the door! doesn’t that mean it is still very serious now. What’s there to ask?

Journalist: The power will be off automatically without money?

Mr. Pan: Yes, of course. It’s bundled with my mobile phone, it deducts automatically. If you don’t believe me, I can show you the phone. My life is really difficult now, what can I do if my 3-year old girl is out of baby formula?

Journalist: If it continues, the common people’s life is….

Mr. Pan: I think I am an individual. People is a derogatory term. I am not just a person. I am an individual. My last name is MPan. My son and daughter are also surnamed MPan. I have a name. How can I just be a common person? Everyone has a first name, right? This Is the Way.

Journalist: This is a very common situation there?

Mr. Pan: My father has not received anything either, nor have my in-laws. My family and relatives have nothing, neither my brothers and sisters—all have nothing. If anyone had received a grain of rice, they would tell me.

Journalist: Where are those donated supplies?

Mr. Pan: Ask Heaven, how would I know? (So many donations from various places.) There are about 17 or 18 people in my family. We speak on the phone—no one has received any so-called donated materials. They didn’t even get a grain of rice. My father has coronary heart disease and high blood pressure. He can’t go out. He can’t stay in the hospital. What kind of society is this!

Journalist: It was said to introduce some policy?

Mr. Pan: Since the lockdown began I have not received a grain of rice. I made a lot of phone calls, they were all recorded. This is my situation now. Who can I complain to? If I scold this party and this government, I would go to jail, to put it seriously, they could say that I overturned the state power, what could I do then?

Journalist: You can’t even afford the rice, how could you overturn the state?

Mr. Pan: I am an individual. I have children, I have a family, and I have parents. What should I do? In other words, there are both elderlies and youngsters at home.

Journalist: Right, there are so many people like you now. You have to wait until the end of April?

Mr. Pan: This society is not human, it is hell. We are boiled in hell, waiting for trial, or waiting for the fire to burn us, just to die. We are very scared, because the coronavirus is ubiquitous. Getting infected is very troublesome.