You’ve all heard the old saying – a friend in need is a friend indeed. And while we may not always be kind to our neighbors, when times are tough, we’re there for each other. We show empathy and are ready to put our differences aside when we have to face something as serious as the outbreak of a dangerous disease.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak started, we’ve been overwhelmed with bad news from all over the world, so it’s nice to hear something comforting for a change. We’re talking about the gestures made by China and Japan to help control the coronavirus.
Japan Made the First Move
Earlier this year, Japan donated a number of surgical masks and other necessary supplies to the first Chinese people affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Photos of these supplies went viral very quickly thanks to users of Weibo, a popular Chinese social network.
Why were these supplies so special? Because the boxes also contained a touching note written in Chinese. Roughly translated, the Japanese government asserted that our lands may be divided by rivers and mountains, but we all share the same sky, moon, and wind.
Chinese ministers were deeply moved, not only by the donation, but the touching message.
China Returns the Favor
Unfortunately, China didn’t have to wait for long to return the favor. The coronavirus still hasn’t been contained, and the World Health Organization has recently declared it a pandemic. The disease is spreading incredibly quickly, so China had the chance to step up and prove they’re just as generous and empathetic.
As the number of those infected began to rise, Japan also had to take precautionary measures to keep the virus under control. At the end of February, they closed the gates of their Disneyland for an indefinite period. As the situation hasn’t improved, China decided to help a friend in need.
The foundation of former CEO of Alibaba, Jack Ma, donated a truly remarkable number of surgical masks to the Chinese people – one million of them! On March 2nd, Ma officially announced details of the donation on his profile on Weibo:
“Like the mountain range that stretches before you and me, let’s share the same trials and hardships together. We hope everything will get better soon.”
Japan received the donation the very next day when a plane belonging to the China Eastern Airlines delivered it from their neighbors.
An Example for All of Us
Tough times may teach us to treat each other better. If China and Japan can put their differences aside and fight the coronavirus disease together, it sets an excellent example for all of us to follow. The world only stands a chance if we all work together to stop the COVID-19 from spreading even further. Even if it’s not one million masks, every little bit helps.
