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Coronavirus Whistleblower Dr. Li Wenliang Wanted Transparency More Than Justice for Himself
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Coronavirus Whistleblower Dr. Li Wenliang Wanted Transparency More Than Justice for Himself

Xin Jianxin, Gao Yu, Bao Zhiming and Ding Gang
Caixin, 2020
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Dr. Li Wenliang, who was an ophthalmologist at Wuhan Central Hospital, had tried to raise alarm about the new coronavirus outbreak in late December, 2019 – weeks before authorities disclosed the full threat to the public – but was silenced by police for “spreading false rumors.” Li later contracted the disease and passed away on January 6, 2020. His death sparked nationwide grief and outrage. Anger and frustration over the Chinese government’s cover-up of the virus, and the inadequate measures taken early on to stop the spread, have reached a boiling point. Calls for accountability, transparency and freedom of speech have flooded Weibo and WeChat, overwhelming China’s internet censors. This article from news outlet Caixin is an interview with Dr. Li, published six days before his death. Caixin has since updated the article to address his passing. 

Take-Aways

  • Dr. Li Wenliang warned his classmates about a new coronavirus when cases were discovered at his hospital.
  • After Li’s message went viral, he was reprimanded by the police and forced to sign documents admitting to spreading false rumors.
  • Li did not act with the intent of being a whistleblower, wanting only to warn fellow doctors to protect themselves because the virus was clearly contagious.

About the Authors

Xin Jianxin, Gao Yu, Bao Zhiming and Ding Gang are coronavirus frontline reporters for Caixin, one of China’s leading and most trusted news outlets that often pushes the nation’s censorship boundaries. 

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