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On Thursday, the Chinese capital, Beijing, witnessed a Rare protest against President Xi Jinping As well as Covid regulations implemented in several parts of the country. This public backlash comes just days before the week-long Communist Party National Congress, where Xi Jinping is expected to serve a third term.
People living in China’s big cities, including Shanghai, are facing tougher restrictions under the president’s zero-coronavirus strategy, launched in August 2021. China has been battling the virus for more than two years since the outbreak began in December 2019, and the protests are proving that Xi’s tactics don’t seem to be helping much.
What is China’s dynamic zero-epidemic strategy?
China adopts ‘dynamic COVID-zero strategy’ in response to high contagion delta variantThe goal is to minimize the economic and social impact of the virus in China by taking effective measures, including strict lockdowns, mass testing and travel restrictions across the country. It has resulted in tens of millions of Chinese citizens being confined to their homes, tested twice a week, and subject to mask-wearing and screening every time they enter the premises.
What is the current count?
The recent increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in China following the 73rd National Day “Golden Week” holiday on October 1 has intensified the suffering of citizens.
The number of new daily infections has nearly doubled since September, when there were about 900 cases a day.According to statistics from the National Health Commission, China added 1,624 new cases Coronavirus disease Cases were infected on October 12, and 1,456 people were infected the following day. The death toll now stands at 5,226.
As of October 13, there were 255,168 symptomatic confirmed cases nationwide. Beijing reported 16 symptomatic cases and eight asymptomatic cases, compared with 12 symptomatic cases and six asymptomatic cases on Wednesday.
According to Reuters, “Financial center Shanghai reported 47 asymptomatic cases and two symptomatic cases, compared with 44 asymptomatic cases and three symptomatic cases the day before. Shenzhen South Technology Center reported 32 new local cases. Spread infections, compared to 26 the day before.”
There were similar spikes in infections in April and May as China battled the coronavirus. Omicron Variants. In April, Shanghai reported about 20,000 cases.
Despite a significant increase in cases, efforts to vaccinate citizens have not attracted enough interest from the government. Professor Liang Wannian, who leads the government’s coronavirus expert group, said vaccination in the country is not mandatory and the vaccines available to the people are not fully effective in preventing infection.
China’s economy in crisis: Can a Covid-zero strategy help?
Restrictions in some 60 Chinese towns and cities have kept their citizens from travelling and forced them to quarantine. Authorities have restricted the movement of passengers, deliveries and residents into and out of the country.
China’s Twitter-like Weibo is flooded with complaints from users about Covid “pop-ups” on smartphone health apps that require PCR tests to allow unrestricted movement. The coercive measures have led Chinese residents to avoid spending on food, travel and retail, putting manufacturing, tourism and the private sector at risk.
In addition to the regulation triggered by the new crown epidemic, the Chinese economy is also slowing as the yuan has plummeted against the dollar.Export-oriented economies are also facing trade tensions with the U.S. – U.S. demand for Chinese products has fallen as inflationhigher interest rates and war Ukraine.
China’s private sector is going through a crisis as Xi tightens his grip on China through state-owned enterprises. In addition, China’s real estate activity accounts for one-third of its gross domestic product (GDP) and reduced demand for new homes has exacerbated the weak economy. China’s official youth unemployment rate, currently at 18.7 percent, will hurt its future economic growth.
The 20th Congress of some 2,300 officials and delegates to be held in the Chinese capital has further tightened the movement of citizens in and out of the city by tightening security measures. According to Reuters, Beijing has hired 42 guards to conduct 24-hour surveillance on “key people,” usually those seen as troublemakers.
On October 13, 2022, a citizen-led protest took place in Beijing, as banners attacking Xi Jinping’s government were unfurled on Sitong Bridge in the capital’s Haidian district. “We want food, not coronavirus testing,” one wrote. “We want freedom, not lockdown.” State authorities guarding the area arrested at least one protester and quickly removed political banners. According to a video circulating online, President Xi Jinping is heard through a loudspeaker being called a “dictator.”
According to a report from Capital Economics on Thursday, “China is unlikely to lift its zero-pandemic policy in the near future, and likely not before the end of 2023.” The note continued, “Another year of zero COVID-19 equals Another year of subdued consumer activity and a high risk of frequent mass lockdowns.”
The National Congress of the Communist Party of China is scheduled to open on October 16, 2022 at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square.
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