Wisdoms from the periphery of an epidemic

I have had some very interesting conversations with friends and teachers about the recent epidemic, which has, so far, thankfully only infected under two dozen people in Taiwan. One friend related to me a conspiracy theory according to which the novel coronavirus is in fact a disease that Chinese agents stole from a Canadian lab and accidentally released in their own country. One of my teachers had heard an even wilder theory, which posited that the coronavirus was intentionally developed as a biological weapon by the USA – hence, the conspiracists argue, the low death rates among foreigners.

Far-fetched conspiracy theories aside, my one on one teacher has had some interesting views on the epidemic, which he framed within a loosely Taoist worldview – or at least vague notions of complementarity boiled down to something along the lines of “every cloud has a silver lining.” For one thing, the epidemic struck just after the DPP’s resounding victory in Taiwan, an event which might have otherwise prompted a strong reaction on China’s part. Its hands full with the epidemic, China has not had time to worry about retribution. I am not sure whether that view still holds up in light of China’s blocking Taiwan from the WHO, and its recent sending of military aircraft to circle (and provoke) Taiwan. What is true is that countries have increasingly rallied behind Taiwan in China’s petty attempts to keep it from participating in the WHO.