Before coronavirus, China was falsely blamed for spreading smallpox. Racism played a role then, too
- Written by Ari Larissa Heinrich, Professor of Chinese Literature and Media, Australian National University
Roman Pilipey/EPA
Spitting. Name-calling. Physical assaults. The outbreak of COVID-19 has coincided with a dramatic escalation in racially motivated incidents towards people of Asian descent around the world.
US President Donald Trump has fuelled these attacks with his strident criticisms of China’s handling of the pandemic, unsubstantiated...