The Pro-China Bias of Msian Chinese Blind-sided by Covid Narratives

Malaysian Chinese are normally astute critics about local politicians, their backdoor schemes and real intentions.

But the sudden downfall of the reformist coalition Pakatan Harapan in February coupled with the once-in-100 year pandemic has shaken their sense of security in more ways than just economic. The pandemic mystery is not only an intellectual but moral challenge to every world citizen.

For years, it is a well known fact that a large section of Malaysian Chinese, whether secretly or publicly, are wholehearted supporters of China's economic rise.

Never mind that this communist regime has a horrendous human rights record which is getting worse under President for life Xi Jin Pin.

Even though I am a full blooded Chinese and I love the enterprising Chinese people and culture, my ethnic profile does not have any bearing on my view of right and wrong.

The willful blindness of Malaysian Chinese to the China question is glaringly clear in my WhatsApp chats with my neighbors.

The uneasy China question which faces the world is this: was the Chinese government culpable in mishandling the coronavirus pandemic? Worse still, it has never been 100% established that Covid-19 is not a biological weapon that was either accidentally or purposefully leaked. 

Lending weight to the 'industrial accident'  possibility, French virologist Nobel laureate Luc Montagnier claimed the deadly virus was manufactured in China's Wuhan laboratory to fight against HIV.

My pro-CCP neighbors typically become defensive with a series of nationalistic arguments that the virus originated from the U.S. lab in Fort Detric.

And when I refocused the mystery back to Wuhan, pointing out the CCP's lying and misinformation in January, they sidetrack to American imperialism and how unfair & stupid is the US president.

Frankly, I dont really care for people's pet theories and political views. But what I find quite morally hypocritical is that these people who call for democratic reforms and human rights of minorities in Malaysia suddenly turn a blind eye when it comes to the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Muslim Uyghurs, Christians, Fa Lun Gong followers and Tibetans.

Is it a double standard form of Chinese racism ? Or is it that many overseas Chinese sympathise so strongly with China's century of humiliation that they feel any expansionism or aggression on China's part against the Western superpowers, India, or the South China Seas is justified?

In response to the 'bigger Imperialist devil argument," consider this analogy: I have a powerful neighbor who is protected by the corrupt police. One day he stole a sports car from another neighbor. Does that mean it is okay for me to steal my neighbour's bike even though it's a smaller theft?

Having shared my views on the China question, I left the neighbors WhatsApp debate some time ago. There will be more revelations & upheavals coming out of this tragic pandemic.

My last 2 points is a hypothesis based on my insight into human nature & current geopolitics:

Two Warnings

1. Wars plotted and launched by any fascist/communist regime usually starts with inhuman treatment of certain minorities in their own countries.

Nazi Germany persecuted their fellow German Jews and gypsies before invading Europe. While I am not likening the CCP to the Nazis, it is my belief that China's CCP actions in the last four years are ominous signs of a regime getting ready for war.

2. Malaysian Chinese will find themselves in a political and moral quandary in their home country.

Why? Apart from race and corruption issues, the next one or two elections (be it snap or 2023) will most likely see Perikatan Nasional raising a tactical, albeit false, accusation that the DAP is a communist sympathetic party which will ruin the nation.

How will the DAP and those Malaysian Chinese who are supportive of China's political power respond? (To PH's advantage, the former BN government was the one that signed many controversial deals with China). 

On China's side, they have a non-interference foreign policy unless it suits their geopolitical interests. So China will align with any regime that welcomes its Belt & Road Initiatives. 

Our Moral Compass

At the end of the day, Malaysians have to take a moral stand as citizens of the world amidst the upcoming geopolitical whirlwind.

While we can pray that the two superpowers America (which has a worse foreign policy record) and China will not enter into a real war, we must be clear in our moral conscience to hold China accountable for its role in the pandemic.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is tasked with an international probe which is also signed by Malaysia. But the WHO is known to be very partial towards the CCP.

That is why the DAP/PH has to work hard & fast on the China dilemma, a seemingly peripheral issue that has strategic consequences.

Morally speaking, I think we, as a minority community, will be judged by Providence for our lack of integrity in our ambivalent moral positions.

I believe God listens closely to our prayers for the persecuted in China. If we do that, our prayers for justice in our homeland will be heard more clearly.

And that homeland is not the Middle Kingdom. It is Malaysia, a precious, albeit small country in God's eyes.