Yesterday, I reported that one should expect to see an increase in trafficking of endangered species as Chinese people attempt to use “traditional medicine”, many times which is based on nothing more that superstition, to attempt to fight the COVID-19 coronavirus. I based this on reports of the mass poaching of rhinos in Botswana, where China is attempting to expand her geopolitical influence.
This prediction seems to have been verified as the Chinese government has banned the trade in exotic animals as a direct result of the virus epidemic as France24 reports.
China on Monday declared an immediate and “comprehensive” ban on the trade and consumption of wild animals, a practice believed responsible for the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
The country’s top legislative committee approved a proposal “prohibiting the illegal wildlife trade, abolishing the bad habit of overconsumption of wildlife, and effectively protecting the lives and health of the people,” state television reported. (source)
It is unlikely that anything will actually be done, because China largely functions on bribes from the lowest to highest officials. Anything is for sale in China, and as much as the CCP can make declarations or threats, if there is money to be made, there are more than a few people willing to take it without regard to principle.
One may expect to see an increase in the endangered species trade and poaching efforts, especially in Africa and other Chinese-influenced areas as the disease spreads and the government becomes desperate to maintain the image of control and get economic production back to normal lest it threaten the power and survival of the CCP.
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