As the coronavirus outbreak continues to accelerate, the international community is facing a global crisis with public health, geopolitical, and economic repercussions. In the two months since the initial outbreak, doubts over the trustworthiness of information from the Chinese government and other sources, combined with a lack of comprehensive timely scientific understanding of the virus, have stoked fears of an uncontrollable global pandemic. Meanwhile, Chinese criticism of US “overreaction” and delayed acceptance of US medical support suggest that geopolitical considerations continue to limit effective coordinated responses to the outbreak. Likewise, as industries dependent on China for their supply chains are directly impacted as a result of the crisis, concerns are also mounting that the outbreak could further decelerate Chinese economic growth and undermine global growth outlook.

What are the latest projections for the further development of the coronavirus outbreak in China and worldwide? How are health-related misinformation and disinformation shaping the crisis? How does a global health emergency such as this affect geopolitics, including the unfolding strategic competition between the United States and China? What might be the broader geopolitical and economic consequences? Ultimately, how can the United States, Europe, China, and other nations and key non-state actors cooperate to stop the spread of the virus and mitigate the global economic repercussions?

Please join the Atlantic Council for an important public event covering all aspects of this potentially historic global crisis.

Agenda

TimeSession
9:00 – 9:10 a.m.Introduction

Mr. Damon Wilson, Executive Vice President, Atlantic Council
9:10 – 9:55 a.m.Geopolitical Implications of Coronavirus

Mr. Thomas P. Bossert, Chief Strategy Officer, Trinity Cyber, Inc., Former US Homeland Security Advisor (2017-2018), The White House

Mr. Barry Pavel, Senior Vice President and Director, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council
9:55 – 10:40 a.m.Contagious Narratives, Global Responses

Mr. Graham Brookie, Director and Managing Editor, Digital Forensic Research Lab, Atlantic Council

Ms. Rebecca Gustafson, Senior Director of Global Media Relations, Project Hope

Mr. Ned Price, Director of Policy and Communications, National Security Action, Former Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (2014-2017), National Security Council

Coverage of this event

New Atlanticist

Feb 11, 2020

US taking right approach with China over coronavirus, former White House official says

By David A. Wemer

As world leaders attempt to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus, the United States has been correct to take “a soft touch approach to the relationship with Beijing,” former US homeland security advisor Thomas P. Bossert said at the Atlantic Council on February 11.

China Coronavirus