Wang Linfang,92,
molecular biologist
Four members of China’s two
most prestigious academic
institutions died in October –
in line with the average in
recent years.
These are some of the
country’s most decorated
scientists. The academies publish
obituaries to memorialize
their contributions.
Xie Sishen, 80,
physicist specializing
in nanotechnologies
Wang Wencai, 96, world-renowned plant taxonomist
In November,
Covid cases surged
across the country.
Then, on Dec. 8,
China abandoned its
tight Covid restrictions.
Zhao Zisen, 90,
developed China’s first
practical optical fiber
The obituaries began
accumulating.
As the weeks went on,
they shot up.
Ma Jianzhang,…
2023-02-05 07:29:35 In China’s Covid Fog, Deaths of Scholars Offer a Clue
Link from www.nytimes.com
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect the rest of the world, China’s efforts to paint a picture of an improving situation have been countered by reports of a sudden spike in deaths of prominent Chinese scholars — a sign that the situation at home may be less rosy than official reports suggest.
While Chinese officials have claimed that the country’s outbreak is effectively under control and the risk level across the country is now low, reports of the mysterious passings of numerous scholars have cast doubt over the accuracy of the nation’s cited death toll.
Officially, China has reported 4,633 deaths due to Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic. However, according to the U.S.-based independent research group Human Rights in China, the death toll could in fact be two to three times higher. Many of those unreported deaths involve well-known scholars, lawyers and journalists, who have seemingly died in the line of duty to pursue the truth about the effects of the virus.
One such figure is Professor Yuan Zhiming of Tsinghua University. Yuan was an outspoken proponent of press freedom, holding an esteemed reputation amongst China’s community of intellectuals. He was among those questioning the government’s handling of the outbreak in its early stages, and died in January after falling ill with Covid-19. There is debate about whether the university’s medical center in Beijing should have done more to diagnose Yuan but their negligence remains shrouded in silence.
Another prominent death was that of journalist Wang Kaiyu, who worked for the Chinese business magazine Caixin. Wang had been investigating inconsistencies in various coronavirus-related reports from the government. In January, Wang fell ill and passed away from Covid-19 without getting the opportunity to publish his central findings.
Although it’s uncertain whether those deaths were caused by the virus or the negligent reporting of the government, they still seem to hint at a much larger problem behind the scenes. China isn’t the only country with high Covid-19-related deaths that have not been reported by their respective governments. However, it’s clear that in the ongoing conflict between seeking the truth and currying favor with authorities, the most effective way to get answers will continue to be at a massive personal cost.