The gathering storm: AIDS policy in China

This article offers an overview of the AIDS situation in China and analyses the Chinese official responses to the AIDS threat since 1985. It decomposes China's AIDS policy into two phases: a period with institutional inertia featured during the initial phase; and a recent period when the official stance on AIDS demonstrates stronger political will and commitment. The article particularly examines an unusual mode of HIV transmission in China, i.e. through unsafe, unregulated blood collection, to highlight the point that vulnerability to HIV/AIDS has been aggravated in a wider context of transition and worsening inequality. The article also compares policies for tacking AIDS with those for tackling SARS, and suggests lessons that can be learnt. It argues that despite recent positive developments, AIDS needs to be confronted more forcefully through an integrated approach that incorporates broader and fundamental development issues.