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China Scrambles to Boost Its Image on Coronavirus

John Xie

   Weeks after Beijing was criticized by people inside China and around
   the world for a sluggish response to the outbreak of a new coronavirus,
   China's government is trying to recast itself as a global health
   leader.

   China's early response to the outbreak remains shrouded in mystery,
   with an unclear timetable about what officials knew and when they knew
   it.

   At the beginning of the year, as the coronavirus spread in the city of
   Wuhan, authorities downplayed the risk and provided little information.
   Lunar New Year festivities initially went forward, before Beijing
   dramatically reversed course as the outbreak grew. Now, Beijing is
   accusing others of the same thing.

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