China's Coronavirus Outbreak Has Become President Xi's Greatest Political Challenge

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with visiting World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

CNBC: China’s Xi faces his ‘greatest political challenge’ with coronavirus outbreak, says analyst

* By the end of Tuesday, there were 5,974 confirmed cases of a new coronavirus in mainland China, said the country’s National Health Commission. The death toll was 132.
* “This is the probably the greatest political challenge that (President Xi Jinping) has faced since taking office in 2012,” said Allison Sherlock, China researcher at the Eurasia Group, a risk consultancy.
* Beijing is taking measures like locking down cities housing millions, restricting travel and extending the Lunar New Year holiday. Economists expect the economic fallout to hit tourism and consumption in and outside China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is facing a major political crisis from the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, experts said.

By the end of Tuesday, there were 5,974 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in mainland China, according to the country’s National Health Commission. The death toll was 132.

To contain the spread of the virus, Beijing is taking measures like locking down cities housing millions, restricting travel and extending the Lunar New Year holiday. Economists expect the economic fallout to hit tourism and consumption in and outside China.

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Update #1: Outbreak Death Toll Rises to 132, as China’s Xi Vows to Defeat ‘Devil’ Coronavirus (VOA)
Update #2: China's President Xi says containing the virus remains a grim and complex task (Reuters)

WNU Editor: In public the Chinese President has positioned himself to be a leader who is on top of the crisis, and voicing full confidence that this outbreak will be controlled very soon .... China Focus: Xi voices full confidence in winning battle against novel coronavirus (Xinhua). All that I can say is that if this epidemic continues to escalate in the coming weeks, the loss to his credibility will be enormous.

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