When China's industrial production slowed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the West blamed it for having a negative impact on the global supply chains.

When China took measures to resume production, the United States claimed it was stealing US jobs.

Whatever China does is wrong. That's the absurd logic of some Western politicians. Recently, manufacturing in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions has been disrupted by the prevention and control work in response to the reemergence of the virus, and some manufacturing plants that produced for overseas clients have had to suspend operations.

In a globalized economy, any change in the supply chains will inevitably be felt downstream.

Yet some Western politicians have tried to blame Chinese enterprises for something which is beyond their control. That reveals their distorted mentality of constantly searching for a scapegoat rather than solutions.

Affected by the pandemic, the West, especially the US, is suffering a supply chain crisis and lack of labor, which has prompted some of its politicians to target "Made in China" as their scapegoat.

It is that "scapegoat" mentality that distorted co-founder and CEO of Tesla Elon Musk's public speech in a recent forum, in which he praised Chinese workers' hardworking spirit. He spoke highly of the manufacturing industry of China, especially its new energy vehicle enterprises, yet attacked China's so-called "extra-hour culture".

The hardworking spirit is a cherished virtue of the Chinese people. It is the hardworking practices of one generation after another that have turned the once agricultural country into a manufacturing powerhouse.

Facing the COVID-19 pandemic, China has sought to balance its pandemic control with economic activities, which has been a major contribution to the stability and security of the global supply chains.

Certain Western politicians are rather professional in playing their blame game. Fighting the pandemic is not a mistake. Is hard work a sin? These Western politicians are obsessed with opposing everything China does and they refuse to hold an open, objective, rational and inclusive attitude toward China, which is important for striving for common development of the world.

XINHUA NEWS AGENCY