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... it should be welcomed as a sign that China is truly becoming a more open and civilised society.

Then, why are all web sites (local and international) with SARS related contents blocked?

People are calling it THE GREAT FIREWALL OF CHINA. China will be an open society with iron fist media control in about 500 years. Let's wait.

I've got another angle on what China's legacy in all of this will be, and I pray that I am wrong. But IF I'M RIGHT:

Should this indeed turn into a world wide pandemic: Through some mistake in an illegal bioweapons facility, the Chinese allowed the escape of what may possibly turn into the modern equivalent of the Plague. Their ignorant pride and delusionally paranoid need for state secrecy will have sealed the fate of millions of people within their borders, as well as countless others worldwide. Their nation will eventually be quarantined from the rest of the world, and people of Chinese ethnicity who survive this will forever be shunned by the survivors. Just when they thought that the golden moment to become the world's leading power (in their eyes) appeared to be inevitable, one of their assymetric warfare weapons turned on its' makers and destroyed them. Hopefully, they won't take the rest of us with them.

China has lost all of its' honor. I can't imagine a just punishment for these socially and politically infantile, barbaric cretins. This will be the largest case of "Be Careful What You Wish For".

I have not yet received and read Jeff Head's latest book in the Dragon's Fury series, but I've got a feeling that Jeff may have to modify the content of his fouth book. China's robust strength may soon be withering from the impact (real or perceived) of Sars.

While at first China tried to restrict its spread without public warning, things got out of control quickly.

I've read a number of novels about a spreading plague, kept quiet by the government. I always thought that was a ridiculous plot. No government would be that foolish.

Didn't you think that was a poorly written article? The attempts to interweave the spread of SARS with previous economic downturns was difficult to follow and of little value.