China: "COVID-19, an Unprecedented War Since the Founding of the Nation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seong Giho] China has defined the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) as a major war that has occurred since the founding of the New China in 1949.

Local state-run media reported on the 20th that Ding Xiangyang, Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council and a member of the "Central Leading Group dispatched to Hubei," stated at a press conference in Wuhan that "this disease situation is an unprecedented emergency war since the founding of the country."

He added, "The spread of the virus is fierce, and the scope of the spread is wide, posing a tremendous challenge to the entire society," and said, "It can be said to be unprecedented."

Such remarks by a member of the leading group representing the Party Central Committee and the State Council on the ground in Hubei Province reveal that the Chinese Party and government recognize the COVID-19 situation as a historic crisis.

Since the remarks of President Xi Jinping on the 6th, China has been referring to the battle against COVID-19 as a "People's War."

As of the 19th, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths in China reached 74,576 and 2,118, respectively.