Almost three years after the beginning of the pandemic, China shows no signs of easing the tough measures to contain the coronavirus, unlike what the rest of the world has already done. The zero Covid policy, one of the hallmarks of leader Xi Jinping’s management, has left the population tired by the coming and going of confinements, impacts the growth of the economy and stimulates protests, albeit rare, against the regime.
Although the absolute number of infections is much lower than in other countries, Covid is far from zero, of course. This week, contagions reached the highest levels since August: there were 2,089 new registrations on Tuesday (11) and 1,624 on Wednesday (12), driven by a national holiday in which millions of Chinese moved across the country, according to the Committee. National Health.
The scenario and signs of discontent, however, do not seem to shake Xi’s political strength – who is expected to confirm the extension of his leadership to an unprecedented third term during the Communist Party Congress, which starts on Sunday (16).
Xi is expected to use his space at the meeting to sing the laurels of the Covid zero policy, which Beijing points out as the main responsible for the low mortality rate from the disease in the country – as of this Thursday (13), 5,226 people have died, a mere fraction of the rates of Western nations.
This year, as major cities in the US and Europe relaxed coronavirus precautions, Shanghai and other metropolises such as Shenzhen, a tech-rich southern hub, increased the frequency of testing residents and abruptly closed entertainment venues and tourist spots.
Xian, in the northwest, which recorded just over 100 cases from October 1 to 10, has closed schools and museums. Daily buses carrying tens of thousands of people to work in Beijing from nearby Tianjin and Hebei have been temporarily suspended.
Tightening measures could be a strategy to keep the coronavirus under control ahead of the Communist Party’s big event – at which around 2,300 delegates are expected, from different parties – but it could also signal that there is no change in the rules in sight, given that the repeated endorsement by the state-run People’s Daily of the Covid zero policy in recent days.
“Only when the epidemic is under control can the economy be stable, people’s lives can be peaceful,” the daily wrote. “Once a large-scale rebound occurs, the epidemic will spread and have a serious impact on economic and social development, and the ultimate price will be higher.”
Liang Wannian, one of the heads of the Covid-19 policy committee, on Thursday gave up any hope that the measures would be relaxed after the congress. To state broadcaster CCTV, he acknowledged the public’s expectation that life would return to normal soon, but said that, from a scientific point of view, it is impossible to know in which month the pandemic will be defeated.
The costs of tight control are reflected in the economy. Traditionally, according to Alexandre Uehara, professor of international relations and coordinator of the Center for Asian Studies and Business at ESPM, the Chinese population tolerates less political freedom because the economic benefits are worth it. “They didn’t have as much freedom to vote, but they could have a good life, travel abroad.”
As the country’s GDP grew by 8.1% in 2021, according to official data, the impacts of the Covid zero policy on daily life were relativized. “Not this year.” The cost-benefit between political freedom and economic benefits begins to weigh in a context in which the IMF projects growth 5 points lower than last year’s 3.2%. According to Uehara, the population felt more the weight of the stoppage of activities and shows signs of dissatisfaction.
The change was evident this Thursday, in a rare demonstration against the regime. Beijing authorities removed lanes from an overpass, according to images circulating on social media. “We don’t want Covid tests, we want to eat; we don’t want lockdowns, we want to be free,” read one slogan.
It is unusual for Xi to be mentioned by name at demonstrations — residents use euphemisms, phrases and abstract images to avoid censorship.
In finance, the dissent came from a report released last month by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. In the document, the entity pointed out that “ideology is overcoming the economy”. “That kind of ‘we are a success, the West is going down, the East is going up’ kind of speech actually makes me speak up to wake them up and say, ‘Guys, we’re not on a good path here. Joerg Wuttke, the organization’s president, told Reuters.
“The Covid phenomenon was a mishap that ended up affecting the whole world, and, for that very reason, it ends up having this softening in relation to politics. Xi came to power because he went through a whole process of preparation and political negotiation. Communist Party is no accident.”
Covid numbers in China
- 5,226 deaths
- 1,624 cases registered on Wednesday (12)
- 1.01 million cases accumulated
- 89.2% of the population with the first complete vaccination cycle
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