Freakonomics Radio 414. Will Covid-19 Spark a Cold War (or Worse) With China?
Apr 23, 2020
Michelle Flournoy, a former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy and U.S.-China relations expert, joins historian Michael Auslin for an insightful discussion. They explore China's early handling of COVID-19 and its global repercussions. The duo debates accountability, revealing tensions in U.S.-China relations and the looming possibility of a new Cold War. They analyze the pandemic's impact on trade, healthcare ethics, and the need for international collaboration moving forward, highlighting the complexities of navigating these geopolitical dynamics.
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Document Number Three
- The Chinese government ordered research institutes to destroy virological samples in early January.
- This information comes from Taiwanese, Hong Kong, and mainland opposition news sources.
COVID-19 Origins
- COVID-19 likely originated from bats in a Wuhan wet market or lab, not a bioweapon.
- The U.S. military did not create the virus, as some conspiracy theories suggest.
Underreported Deaths
- China's official COVID-19 death toll is likely underreported, similar to early data issues in New York City.
- Crowdsourced estimates suggest a significantly higher death toll in Wuhan.
