Some protesters, led by the younger generation, have even called for the resignation of the Communist Party and its leader, Xi Jinping. Many are fed up with Xi, who in October secured a third term, and the continuation of his “zero-Covid” policy, which continues to disrupt daily life, harm livelihoods, and isolate the country.
The more than 1.4 billion residents of China remain at the mercy of the strict Covid policy. The policy is designed to eliminate infections, relying on instant lockdowns of apartment buildings and sometimes even entire cities or regions, as well as enforcing long quarantines and a series of tests on residents.
Outside of China, the rest of the world has adapted to the virus and is living close to normality. Take the World Cup, the planet’s premier sporting event. Thousands of people from around the world are gathering in Qatar and cheering for their teams, shoulder to shoulder, without masks, in packed stadiums.
China’s strict approach to Covid received praise during the early days of the pandemic and undoubtedly saved lives. But now this approach seems increasingly outdated. Nearly three years after the emergence of the coronavirus, the contrast between China and the rest of the world could not be greater.Deadly Fire Infuriates Population
The spark for the protests was a fire that occurred on Thursday, November 24, in the city of Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, which left 10 people dead. The region had been locked down for more than three months.
Many Chinese suspect that the restrictions to contain Covid – which include makeshift barricades and blocked emergency exits to keep people indoors – hindered rescue efforts or prevented residents from seeking shelter from the fire.
After this incident, many residents of Urumqi took to the streets, chanting “end the lockdowns.”The Chinese Economy is Hurt by Restrictions
Disruptions to daily life have hit large and small businesses alike, from the company that makes iPhones to neighborhood shops and restaurants.
A lockdown at a Foxconn facility (the world’s largest technology manufacturer) in Zhengzhou, central China, showed how the policy can have global ramifications. After workers were pulled from their jobs to limit a Covid outbreak, production fell. This, in turn, forced Apple to warn that its sales would fall short of expectations.
To avoid similar problems, other multinational companies have sought to expand production outside of China.
On the main streets of Chinese cities, lockdowns have reduced foot traffic, harming businesses vital to urban employment.
According to the latest data, the Chinese economy grew by 3.9% in the three months ending in September. But this fell short of the government’s target of 5.5% for 2022, and some economists are predicting it will drop even further in the last months of the year.Source: The New York Times