Once again, the nation's AIDs sufferers are bearing the brunt of an under-resourced and mismanaged public healthcare system. Carting 200 AIDs patients out of one of the capital's leading hospitals and spreading mis-information about transfers to other hospitals - without any evidence or corroboration of this by the authorities - highlights the cavalier way in which communications is being (mis)managed in the current outbreak.
When will the PRC Government get it? It is all very well to preach that it's leading the future economic charge for Asia, hosting the 2008 Olympics, being the upstart to knock Hong Kong off its shakey economic pedestal - but until actions match the rhetoric, China has a long way to go before it can be taken seriously on the global stage.
Exhibiting a gossamer-like veil of control over the Sars epidemic is exactly that - thin on substance - backed only by an alarming lack of reliable, credible communications. Given that we are talking about the sufferers of one epidemic being denied access to basic healthcare to make way for another, suddenly worthier group, where is the consistency or compassion?
No-one is making light of the Sars outbreak. However in the cold light of day, the 2,753 cases officially reported to the World Health Organisation do not match the plight of millions of AIDs sufferers in China who are being systematically blocked out amid the hysteria.
Economically, though China appears more robust than its vulnerable, floundering sibling Hong Kong, until a commmunications sea change starts to effectively, transparently communicate the true issues it is grappling with - both to its own people and to the outside world - global prominence is wishful thinking.
Elsewhere across Asia, messages of solidarity have been picking up pace.
In Singapore, MSN and Straits Media have, with the pro-bono expertise of consultancy AsiaPR.Comz, launched an online website to commend the work of the frontline medical corps treating Sars sufferers. Hong Kong's South China Morning Post has gone one better: launching Project Shield to raise funds for protective suits for medical workers.
While Sars-led news has gripped the Post's front pages since the outbreak began, the paper has taken the stance that 'any news on Sars is valid news', opting for an all-out information assault where objectivity has on occasion been missing. No-one can argue that raising money for this cause is admirable and apt - but the person who came up with the bright idea of sending donations direct to the Post's marketing department could do with learning the valuable merits of subtlety.