[yfzhou]

Any source for that?

Google doesn't give me any result if I search "武汉 肺炎" (Wuhan Pneumonia) prior to December 30. December 30 was definitively the first time it appeared on the news, and when it did, it quickly became the top news in about a week.

[microcolonel]

Why would media in China be publishing articles including that term before December 30; and what does not seeing those articles say about the parent post?

[yfzhou]

Do you think Chinese politicians are superhuman who know things before anyone report on them?

Xi Jinping had no problem locking down cities after he learned the severity of it. It's ludicrous to think he knew it in December but somehow decided it was a good idea to wait till it spread to the whole country to do it.

[kmonsen]

A few things:

- He had no problems locking down cities after the severity became known. Is fairly Reasonable to think that in the beginning they thought it was something they could keep quiet and it would go away

- people in China don’t report things that might be negative for fear of consequences, he is creating a situation where he doesn’t get to know things before it’s too late this way

[microcolonel]

I mean, surely given how embarrassing it has been for PRC, I wouldn't expect 新華 to be excited to publish it for the public and the world to see. And yes, in China especially I expect the party to know about bad news, particularly bad news generated at state institutions, before the media is permitted to report on it, and I expect that reporting to be partial if it ever comes.

In fact, I am suspicious of anyone who knows anything about this and claims otherwise.