Post: Expert says China won’t lift strict COVID measures after protests

Healthcare workers disinfect a COVID-19 mass testing area in Beijing. May 15, 2022. Archive photo

Expert Nezhdanov: China will not lift strict measures against coronavirus even after protests

MOSCOW, November 28 – RIA Novosti. Vladimir Nezhdanov, an expert from the Institute of Contemporary International Issues of the Russian Diplomatic Academy (IAMP), said that China will not lift strict measures against the coronavirus even after the protests, and that the authorities will continue to adhere to the “zero tolerance” policy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs told RIA Novosti.

Despite the fact that anti-epidemiological control in China remains one of the strictest in the world, the country is still experiencing a deterioration in the epidemiological situation due to numerous local COVID-19 outbreaks. Partial lockdowns have been introduced in some cities, and people have to undergo PCR testing every day. Against this background, a wave of protests swept through China, including Shanghai and Beijing. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that the statement about widespread dissatisfaction with the zero-tolerance policy towards COVID-19 in China is not true.

The “zero tolerance” policy has both pros and cons. 35 thousand cases (COVID infections – ed.) per 1 billion 300 million people are considered record figures, but in any European country or Russia they say that these are record numbers. Indicators close to ideal On the other hand, despite vaccination, we see that the collective immunity against the new strains develops worse.”

“So far there is no sign that Beijing is ready to move away from its ‘zero tolerance’ policy. After all, they said it was a successful policy even during the 20th Congress of the CCP. We most likely won’t. Look for a sharp policy relaxation, but ensuring social justice There will be attempts to equalize the situation through statements and negotiations with companies for this purpose,” he said.

According to Nezhdanov, the reason for the mass protests was the tiredness of society from the isolation and the aggravation of social problems during the pandemic. An example of this is the protests of workers at Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant.

“The workers took action because they were told they would receive their bonuses later than promised. The action itself should not be seen as a protest against the state and the system. The protest is directed at the factory management who is not ready. support the current demand for social justice in society “, – said the expert.

At the same time, according to him, the reasons for the emergence of mass protests in Hong Kong and mainland China are different.

“The protests in Hong Kong are linked to the demand for democratization out of fear of full integration into the PRC. In Hong Kong, a whole generation has watched the gradual curtailment of freedoms that existed during the transitional period. Be it metropolitan residents since 1997, when Hong Kong returned to China. “We want to continue to capitalize on the opportunities that come to the city. As for mainland China, we’re seeing protests here about the build-up of social tension.”

Source: Ria

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