So far the only people I see buying the first narrative are CCP state media and credulous Western journalists.

There is, however, plenty of evidence the second narrative is a reality, helped along in Africa by stories about racism in Guangzhou. Many African politicians and diplomats have reacted quickly and in ways that run counter to their usual soft-touch approach with Beijing, which seems to indicate a considerable amount of public anger.

There is also the issue of Brazil, where Bolsonaro's government has explicitly pointed the finger at China to stave off valid criticism of their own disastrous response. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/04/14/its-not-just-trump-whos-angry-china/