Xi Jinping visited Wuhan on March 10. He had a tele-conference with the medical staff working at the Huoshenshan Hospital and he also visited a local community.
Radio Free Asia published a few commentators’ views on Xi’s trip. According to their comments, Xi’s visit to Wuhan indicated that Xi thinks the fight against the epidemic has come to a point where he could claim victory for the first phase and take credit for his leadership. It is time to convert the plague to his personal victory and deal with any news against Xi that is spreading in China. Xi probably wants to use his Wuhan trip to get rid of the criticism, both from within the Chinese Communist Party and outside of the party.
Related postings on Chinascope:
- Leadership: The CCP Was Forced to Reverse the “Be Grateful to the CCP” Education
- Leadership: Wuhan Party Chief Asked Wuhan People to Be Grateful to Xi Jinping and the CCP
- Leadership: A Political Controversy: Head of National Health Commission Praised Wuhan Mayor
- Leadership: “The General Secretary Came to My Home”
- Leadership: The Hype and Stop of the Book “The Great Power Fighting Epidemic”
Excerpt in Chinese:
清华大学政治学系前讲师吴强当天接受自由亚洲电台采访时表示，与中共前领导人胡锦涛温家宝时代比较，习近平此次到武汉慰问一线医务人员和患者，时间稍微晚了点。他说：“不如胡、温在2003年SARS时期，第一时间亲临前线视察，这种到武汉的行为，在过去一个多月有很多次传说，最后没有实现。这种迟到效应，我相信有几方面含义。”
吴强说，一方面武汉处于疫区中心位置，而北京也是防疫的重点：“其次他以终于去了武汉的态势表明他所领导的疫情战役，已经获得阶段性成果。各种新增病例都在下降的状态，表明他成功防范瘟疫，有成功的领导责任。灾情转为他个人的胜利，这具有重要的政治意义。”
旅美学者贺先生对本台表示，目前不利于习近平的传闻很多，北京的政治形势严峻，习近平到武汉是为了摆脱困境：“摆脱北京的政治僵局的动作，尽管是姿态性，象征性的也远远大于实际意义。似乎习是希望通过到武汉视察，来摆脱党内外对他的各种批评。”
中国至今累计有超过八万人被确诊，三千多人死亡 现旅居美国的学者张良栋认为，习近平到武汉的确冒着被感染的风险，因为疫情尚未消失，但是：“疫情这件事，现在正好是摘桃子的机会，他跟谭德赛会谈的时候就说他亲自指挥，亲自部署。那个时候他已经很清楚这个桃子绝对不能落在别人手里。他开始还有点犹豫，李克强去了武汉之后，他觉得这个桃子一定要摘。”
1月23日，武汉关闭离汉通道，实施封城管理至今已48天。有舆论认为，习近平到访武汉除了表明中国战胜疫情已取得了阶段性胜利，还暗示距离武汉解除封城的日子不会遥远。
Source: Radio Free Asia, March 10, 2020
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/huanjing/ql2-03102020065952.html