Name: World Faces 'Millions More' Infections as China Reopens Borders Amid COVID Surge: Pompeo
Uploaded: 2023-01-04T12:01:35.000Z
Description: Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused the Chinese regime of "knowingly infecting people all across the globe" as the country prepares to reopen its border amid a record surge of COVID infections.

Jack Bradley is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Jack previously anchored "NTD Newsroom" and worked as an assistant producer for the show. 

Jack Bradley

NTD Plus

News

News with integrity, from the U.S. and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

China’s Broken Promises Loom Over New Trade Deals

David Lam is a national correspondent based in California and a part-time anchor for "NTD Tonight." Before joining NTD he was a financial analyst.

David Lam

Californians React as Trump Calls for Gas Tax Suspension

Arleen Richards is NTD's legal correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers all major legal stories. Arleen holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.).


Arleen Richards

Federal Agencies Announce ‘Summer Surge’ of Law Enforcement into DC Ahead of 250th Anniversary

Christina Corona is a California-based reporter for NTD News. She primarily covers California news, politics, and entertainment.  

Christina Corona

Trump Administration Reports Zero Border Releases

Arian Pasdar is an international correspondent for NTD News based in South America. His reporting focuses on immigration and key events in Latin America.

Arian Pasdar

US to Host 1st Ever World Cup Final Halftime Show, Featuring Shakira, Madonna

Savannah Pointer is a politics reporter for The Epoch Times. She can be reached at savannah.pointer@epochtimes.us

Savannah Hulsey Pointer

Jason Perry is an Army veteran and NTD's National Security Correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Jason primarily covers border security, national defense, foreign wars, and veterans' issues.

Jason Perry

Health News

Texas Children's Hospital to Open First-Ever Detransition Clinic Under Deal With DOJ

Sam Wang is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Sam covers politics on Capitol Hill, and U.S.-China relations. 

Sam Wang

Citizens Honor Police for Their Service and Sacrifice

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

Trump ‘Projecting American Influence and Leadership’ on Iran Issue in Beijing: China Expert

Chris Bob is a reporter for NTD and a host of "Profiles of Service." He is also a small business owner. Chris graduated from Union College with a concentration in politics and religion in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Chris Bob

Senate Panel Advances Crypto Regulation Bill

Jason Blair is a national correspondent for NTD News based in California. 

Jason Blair

Lawmakers Weigh ‘Sanctuary’ Polices After Woman’s Death in Virginia

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 15)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 14)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 12)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 11)

Don Ma is an anchor and senior business correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Don is the anchor and producer of NTD's "Business Matters," which airs weekdays at 4:30 pm ET.

Don Ma

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 10)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 9)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 8)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 7)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 6)

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

US News

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

World News

Middle East

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused the Chinese regime of "knowingly infecting people all across the globe" as the country prepares to reopen its border amid a record surge of COVID infections.

China is grappling with an explosive COVID-19 outbreak that has yet to peak. About <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/china-estimates-248-million-people-infected-with-covid-in-20-days-reports_4943473.html">248 million people</a>, or 18 percent of the country's population, were estimated to have been infected by the virus between Dec. 1 to 20, according to a memo from an internal meeting of the country's top health regulator leaked online.

As the virus swept through the nation of 1.4 billion, the regime announced last week it will reopen its borders on Jan. 8, scrapping one of the last remaining curbs from the strict zero-COVID policy that <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/beijings-hardline-covid-19-response-pushes-shanghai-to-the-brink_4401908.html">upended daily life</a> for hundreds of millions and <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/chinas-q2-gdp-slows-to-0-4-percent-as-lockdown-bites_4600409.html">battered China's economy</a>.

During a Jan. 1 interview with entrepreneur and talk show host John Catsimatidis on The Cats Roundtable, Pompeo warned about the reemergence of chaotic scenes such as those that occurred in Italy at the onset of the pandemic.

"The data is no good. But it sounds like we might have as many as a million—a million, John, a million—Chinese people infected," he continued.

"Fifty percent of their population traveling, there is no reason that we should allow the Chinese to do this, again, to send Chinese-infected persons around the world, knowingly infecting people all across the globe."
<h2>International Concern</h2>
Since the onset of the pandemic, the communist regime has drawn mounting criticism for <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/while-chinese-regime-claims-no-new-virus-infections-citizens-say-many-are-still-sick_3278515.html">covering up</a> COVID-related information. Amid the current explosive outbreak, the lack of transparent data has prompted international concern, particularly regarding the possibility of a new, stronger variant emerging out of China.

Italy, the first European nation to be hit hard by COVID-19 after the virus surfaced in China in late 2019, has moved quickly to <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/italy-mandates-covid-testing-of-all-china-arrivals-after-half-of-passengers-on-two-flights-from-china-to-milan-tested-positive_4951743.html">mandate</a> COVID-19 tests for all travelers coming from China, including those traveling through Italy to other destinations. "The measure is essential to ensure surveillance and detection of possible variants of the virus in order to protect the Italian population," Italian health minister Orazio Schillaci told parliament on Dec. 28.

The main airport in Milan had already begun to screen arrivals from Beijing and Shanghai on Dec. 26. On the first flight from China to be tested, 35 out of 62 passengers tested positive for COVID-19, an Italian health official <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/italy-imposes-mandatory-covid-tests-travellers-china-2022-12-28/">said</a>.

The United States last week <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p1228-COVID-china.html">announced</a> it will require passengers to present a negative COVID-19 result or proof of recovery before boarding a U.S.-bound flight from China. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the step is intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 in America amid the massive outbreak in China, given what it calls the "lack of adequate and transparent epidemiological and viral genomic sequence data being reported" from China. The agency is <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/cdc-considers-testing-wastewater-on-airliners-as-china-lifts-covid-19-travel-restrictions_4953185.html">considering</a> measures like sampling wastewater from international flights to track potential new variants.

In Sunday's interview, Pompeo lambasted Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, warning the virus unleashed by the regime's abrupt reopening could infect "millions more."

"Xi got away with this once. I regret that he wasn't held accountable," the former lawmaker said. "He hasn't been held accountable. But we should still do that for the 6 million people who died between spring of 20[20] and today, but he's doing it again."

"Just as in the spring of 20[20] he sent people around the world who he knew were infected. He's doing the same darn thing again. He's going to infect millions more, we shouldn't let that happen.”
<h2>Doubts Over Official Data</h2>
Scenes of <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/chinas-crematoriums-hospitals-overwhelmed-as-covid-surges-across-country_4936183.html">overwhelmed hospitals</a>, people on intravenous drips by the roadside, and lines of hearses <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/whether-you-live-or-die-no-one-cares-chinese-left-helpless-amid-covid-crisis_4948225.html">outside crematoria</a> have stoked widespread distrust of the regime's official COVID-19 information.

Regional data from Chinese provinces and cities recently estimated the infection rate may have<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/chinese-cities-see-covid-19-infection-rate-exceeding-50-percent_4956054.html"> exceeded 50 percent in some areas,</a> painting a picture much grimmer than what the nation’s central authorities have disclosed. The infection rate in the southwestern province of Sichuan, which has a population of more than 84 million, is over 63 percent, according to a Dec. 26 <a href="https://www.sccdc.cn/view.aspx?id=31245">statement</a> by the Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Despite the spiraling surge in infections, China only recognized one new COVID-19 death on Jan. 2, according to Reuters, pushing the total fatalities to 12 since the regime abruptly reversed course on Dec. 7.

Chinese health officials recently explained that they define a COVID-death to be an individual who dies from pneumonia or respiratory failure caused by COVID-19. That excludes deaths from other COVID-related causes, as well as the deaths of individuals with underlying diseases.

Michael Ryan, head of health emergencies at the World Health Organization, has said the narrow criteria would “very much underestimate the true death toll," <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/23/world/asia/china-covid-death-toll.html">reported</a> the New York Times on Dec. 23.

The World Health Organization on Dec. 30 once again <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/30-12-2022-who-meets-with-chinese-officials-on-current-covid-19-situation">urged</a> China's health officials to regularly share specific and real-time information on the COVID-19 situation in the country, as it continues to assess the latest surge in infections.
<h2>Lunar New Year Risk</h2>
Expectations for holiday travel have grown as China lifts travel and other harsh requirements for the first time in nearly three years.

China's biggest holiday, Lunar New Year, begins on Jan. 22 this year. During the holiday, the country's railway network is expected to carry 5.5 million passengers, state broadcaster CCTV has said.

Authorities at Tibet's spectacular Potala Palace said it would open for visitors on Jan. 3, after shutting down last August due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Some hotels in the southern tourist resort of Sanya are fully booked for Lunar New Year, media have said.

In recent days, state media have sought to reassure the public that the COVID-19 outbreak is under control and nearing its peak.

However, outside researchers predicted an alarming scenario for the first Lunar New Year festival after China's reopening. By Jan. 23, the second day of the Lunar New Year, the country may see as many as <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/china-may-see-a-peak-of-25000-people-a-day-die-from-covid-in-january-report_4953237.html">25,000 people</a> dying from COVID-19 each day, according to the latest estimate by Airfinity, a London-based health analytics firm. Infections are predicted to reach their first peak on Jan. 13, with 3.7 million cases a day.

Currently, the virus is infecting 1.8 million people in China each day, with cumulative cases totaling <a href="https://www.airfinity.com/articles/airfinitys-covid-19-forecast-for-china-infections-and-deaths">20.4 million</a> since Dec. 1, Airfinity said in a <a href="https://www.airfinity.com/articles/airfinitys-covid-19-forecast-for-china-infections-and-deaths">statement</a> released Dec. 29 and updated with even bleaker numbers Dec. 30. That indicates that China is likely seeing 11,000 virus-related deaths a day, Airfinity said, more than doubling its estimate from a week ago.

<em>Reuters contributed to this report.</em>

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world-faces-millions-more-infections-as-china-reopens-borders-amid-covid-surge-pompeo_4956859.html">The Epoch Times</a></em>

China News

world

Videos

04_Top Stories

Latest Clips

Pompeo

COVID-19

Dorothy Li is a reporter for The Epoch Times, covering China's politics, international relationships, security, and society. Contact Dorothy at dorothy.li@epochtimes.nyc.

Dorothy Li

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.