Xi Jinping attacks 'doubters' as he doubles down on China's zero-Covid policy

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Xi Jinping attacks ‘doubters’ as he doubles down on China’s zero-Covid policy

President defends ‘scientific and effective’ mass lockdowns despite protests, shortages and damage to economic growth

Helen Davidson in Taipei
@heldavidson
Fri 6 May 2022 10.59 BST
First published on Fri 6 May 2022 05.47 BST

Xi Jinping has confirmed there is no intention to turn away from China’s zero-Covid commitment, in a major speech to the country’s senior officials that also warned against any criticism or doubting of the policy.

Addressing the seven-member politburo standing committee, China’s highest decision-making body, specifically about the Shanghai outbreak, the president said China’s response was “scientific and effective”. He told officials to “unswervingly adhere to the general policy of dynamic zero-Covid”.

“We have won the battle to defend Wuhan, and we will certainly be able to win the battle to defend Shanghai,” he said, according to a translation by Sinocism’s Bill Bishop.

China is the last major economy still committed to a policy of containment and elimination of the virus, despite the increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant, which has overwhelmed other previous zero-Covid jurisdictions. It has largely stuck to the measures employed throughout the pandemic – lockdowns, mass testing and movement restrictions based on health codes.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/06/xi-jinping-attacks-doubters-as-he-doubles-down-on-chinas-zero-covid-policy

[intrepidity]

1. If I were being cynical

I'd think these actions are not *only* about the current pandemic, but preparations for future ones as well.

Probably not wasted effort, imho.