China’s reaction to the swine flu threat that has afflicted several countries around the world has been assertive, although it has also been subjected to what some think is an overreaction to the crisis. Indeed, accusations have been made by Mexican officials claiming that Chinese authorities have discriminated against Mexican passengers arriving in China.
On May 2, 2009, as many as 70 travelers from Mexico were involuntarily confined to their Chinese hotels and to medical facilities even as they showed no symptoms of the swine flu. Some Mexicans were ushered out from their hotels during late evening hours so they could be tested at medical facilities.
For their part, the Chinese assert that they were simply conducting commonsensical efforts to prevent the spread of swine flu in their territory. It should be remembered that China’s past experience with the SARS epidemic and the avian flu has made it acutely sensitive to this new strain of the swine flu. That said, Beijing denies discriminating against Mexicans. But China’s denials has done little to appease Mexico as Mexican president Felipe Calderon complained that far too many countries like China were “acting out of ignorance and disinformation” and taking “repressive, discriminatory measures.”
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