@drifta, the CCP had definitely handled this poorly. As a govt, unfortunately, cant be throne out by its people.
on the topic of "pay", maybe there should be more reparations for aboriginals in AUS, the US should also pay for the recklessness of its bank and lack of govt oversight which essentially created the GFC, hey lets include all deaths/famines as a result of unnecessary wars involving the US. lets go back further in time and western countries pay for the opium wars where millions of chinese died?
see how "pay" doesnt stackup?
this is what happens with globalisation. The only way to minimise is to end global trade including accepting chinese money. Challenge is China through many industries (eg. Mining, tourism, education) has made AUS an even wealthier country over the last decade. Cant have your cake and eat it too.
Apart from Sth Korea, Sing, and HK, not many first world countries were prepared. Instead we all sat around for weeks thinking it wouldnt happen to "us". If you talk to any aussie expats living in Sing, they will tell you how different govt/peoples response was, hence have managed the situation better.
Note plenty of people have warned about pandemics, no one in Aus has ever taken it seriously including myself until now.
