China declares victory over the coronavirus pandemic – rightly so?

Chinese officials have declared victory over the coronavirus after nine whirlwind months for first reponders, scientists and party-officials. Despite denying the severity of the virus and under-reporting numbers, Beijing now says it can keep the pandemic at bay. Since the coronavirus spread from the city of Wuhan across the world, the China been remarkably successful in containing the virus. Beijing is now busy in telling a version of the story in which the Communist party takes all the credit for that success. Forgotten are the early mistakes that allowed the virus to spread uncontrolled for weeks. Forgotten too are the whisteblowers that warned of the danger, only to be silenced by the authorities. Official monuments are built by the communist party. They express no criticism, as the regime tolerates no dissent.