[woofie11]

Thank you. That's what I gotta say. Thank you.

I hate all the cynics and conspiracy theories here. It's a generous move, and deeply appreciated.

Jack didn't spend that much money to be a douchebag. He spent it because this will save countless lives.

[xenadu02]

It's not much different from the Gates Foundation and similar ventures. When you're so rich money doesn't matter philanthropic works are expected.

It also doesn't help that the current administration has bungled the testing from day 1; in the past we would have ramped up testing when the disease was spreading in China. Whether it's lack of leadership, incompetence, or deliberate we don't know. But Dear Leader certainly won't take responsibility for it and isn't interested in solving the problem so lack of leadership is definitely a factor. My guess is at least some in the administration were dumb enough to believe it wouldn't spread in the US.

[mehrdadn]

Yeah, honestly. Even as someone who can be cynical about things, I still think this is very much kind and appreciated. Meanwhile I know others who say it's political and means pretty much nothing... I just don't know how to reply.

[adventured]

It's clearly no more political than the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation directing funds & other resources to assist China (and Asia broadly) the other direction, for which Xi personally thanked Bill [1]. China has an enormous amount of wealth and production capacity, anything they can help out with is a positive. As they bring their outbreak under control, they'll have dramatic spare capacity around test kits and medical supplies, that can benefit the rest of the world.

[1] http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-02/22/c_138807761.htm

[alisonatwork]

Of course it's more political than anything Bill and Melinda are doing. Jack Ma is a member of the CPC. The CPC is the sole organ of power in China. Currently they are going to great lengths to try to make everyone around the world forget that they are the ones who caused this pandemic in the first place. They've even stooped to allowing the conspiracy theory to spread that the true origin of the virus is overseas. It's shameful.

When the immediate crisis is over, the world needs to hold the CPC accountable. You don't get to set a fire and show up with a bucket three months later expecting to be declared a hero.

So, Jack Ma donating masks around the world can be a positive thing for the people affected by the virus right now, but it can also be a cynical political move at the same time.