The continuing spread of Ebola has become the most prominent global threat. The number of Ebola cases reported in the current outbreak topped 10,000, with the death toll rising to 4,922. Although three West African countries have suffered the most, the disease has already popped up in the U.S. and Spain. According to a warning issued by the World Health Organization, it was a matter of time before the Ebola pandemic ravaged the world if no effective measures were taken. The World Bank Group recently released a report saying the financial impact of Ebola could reach 32.6 billion dollars by the end of 2015.

Ebola has become a significant issue in U.S. domestic politics, as well as foreign policy, with a need for strong international cooperation. The U.S., which suffered its first Ebola fatality, is also threatened by the disease. Four cases are under control while another three people are being treated, but the Ebola panic has gradually gripped the country. Ebola even emerged as a hot-button issue in the run-up to the November 4 midterm elections. President Obama declared the Ebola outbreak a “national security priority”, boosted medical aid to West Africa, sent 3,000 troops to Liberia and proposed a plan of spending up to 1 billion dollar fighting Ebola.

Fighting Ebola also affects China’s national security, interests and image. China and Africa have witnessed a large increase in people-to-people contacts and exchanges. On the one hand, China feels the agony of its African friends and, as a responsible power, will not sit idle. On the other hand, with the wider spread of Ebola, China is also at a serious risk from an Ebola outbreak and thus has the internal momentum to safeguard its national security. China has already sent three rounds of aid to Ebola-stricken countries in April, August and September this year for a total of 234 million yuan. On October 24, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China would provide a fourth-round of emergency aid valued at 500 million yuan to African countries for fighting Ebola.