It seems that some people in China have had enough of Covid Zero after nearly three years.
Thousands of people took to the streets in several cities at the weekend, openly challenging police and the Covid policies that have kept China out of the world. The deaths of 10 people in a high-rise building fire in Uyghur sparked speculation that Covid rules prevented aid and fire-fighting efforts. The social and economic toll of a policy that has come to make less and less sense is reflected in the protests.
Protests spread quickly, with online videos showing people in cities clashing with officials and even calling for the president to step down.
As Covid cases continue to rise with colder weather, people seem unwilling to submit to more and more punishing curbs. How will the government respond? The government issued vague guidelines in order to get local officials to be less disruptive. The country's ultimate goal is to stop the spread of the virus.
With vaccination rates lagging those in other countries and the exclusive use of less effective domestically-produced shots, analysts estimated that dropping all restrictions would put 5.8 million people in intensive care. If he backs down in the face of public protest, there will be a political cost for him.
If the country sticks to a stance that's become Communist Party ideology or if the government quells public anger, then all eyes will be on that. China's most powerful leader since Mao is facing his biggest challenge yet.
Xi Jinping’s Dilemma: Placate or Crack Down on China’s Covid ProtestsBeijing is about to reach a tipping point as extraordinary demonstrations erupt around the country.
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