Chinese demonstrate in several cities and demand changes to the rigid strategy to contain the corona virus; Xi Jinping talks about possible ‘opening restrictions’
Jade GAO/AFP
The Chinese government had to act quickly in the face of the unusual demonstrations that took place over the past weekend, when hundreds of people marched across the city in various cities ChinaShe took to the streets to protest against the “Covid Zero” policy that has been in place for almost three years. “No Covid tests, we want to eat!” the demonstrators shouted. “We don’t want Covid, we want freedom,” said others. Some even went so far as to call for his resignation Xi Jinping🇧🇷 Currently, China is the only major economy that continues to adopt a tough strategy against the coronavirus. Amid the possibility of the longrunning protests continuing, several cities eased antiCovid measures on Friday, April 2, with claims that this new wave is less deadly than previous ones China is seeing a spike in coronavirus cases, with the capital is facing its worst moment. “Now the epidemic is basically the omicron variant, a less deadly variant, and that opens up the possibility of greater openness on restrictions,” President Xi Jinping told European Council President Charles Michel.
For the specialists owned by the portal boy pan, this flexibility was expected. “The demonstrations had an impact on the ‘Covid Zero’ policy. The Chinese always speak up and protest when the “shoe pinches”. And the party listened, because its legitimacy depends heavily on responding to these popular demands,” explains Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, Professor of International Law and Coordinator of the Nucleus of BrazilChina Studies at FGV Direito Rio. Doctor of Political Science Alexandre Uehara says the current moment is complicated for the Chinese government because “making policy more flexible at a time when there are many Covid cases may affect the health system, but the suppression of demonstrations and protests”. can further fuel the already dissatisfied populace.” Protests in China have been going on for at least eight months, but they have now gained traction after a fire at a factory in the central region injured 38 people. Many Chinese claim that firefighters’ work has been hampered by restrictions caused by the “Covid Zero” strategy, which the Beijing government has denied.
Demonstrators call for Xi Jinping’s resignation │Anthony WALLACE / AFP
For Carvalho, in addition to the tiredness, the fact that the Chinese value freedom and have been restricted to it for the past three years has stirred the spirits of the Chinese even more. “The ‘Covid Zero’ policy has absurdly limited that possibility. They tolerated it very much, thinking it was a policy put in place to avoid major problems,” he explains, adding that over time and with no sign of improvement, they got tired. This situation weakened the relationship between the government and the people, because until the time when the economy was growing it was beneficial, but when China started to fall and stagnate, the situation changed. “People thought, ‘We don’t have political freedom and we don’t have democracy, but on the other hand, the government guaranteed economic growth,’ which somehow has advantages,” says Uehara. “When the government stops delivering growth and has deep policies, it breeds dissatisfaction because before they delivered to the people and people could leave and consume, now you don’t have one or the other. which weakens relationships,” he adds.
In China, anyone infected with Covid19 must be isolated in a quarantine center. However, there are signs of changes in this scenario. In an analysis published on Friday by Diário do Povo, the Communist Party newspaper, health experts backed measures announced by some regional authorities to allow people who have tested positive for Covid to quarantine at home. From Monday 5, Beijing residents will be able to take the bus or subway again without having to present a negative PCR test result in less than 48 hours, according to the mayor’s office. All that is now required is a green health pass, confirming that the person has not crossed a “risk area”. In the capital, authorities have urged hospitals to stop rejecting patients who do not have a negative PCR test less than 48 hours later. China has recorded several deaths due to delays in medical treatments caused by antiCovid measures. Such was the case of a fourmonthold baby who recently died due to the obligation to remain in quarantine with his father.
The changes presented by China were celebrated by the World Health Organization (WHO)🇧🇷 “We are pleased that the Chinese authorities are adjusting their current strategy and calibrating control measures”, due to several factors, such as “[a preservação de] Life, Livelihoods and Human Rights,” Michael Ryan, WHO’s director for emergencies, said at a news conference. “It’s really important for governments to listen to people when they’re suffering,” he added. According to the WHO, around 9.6 million cases of the disease have been registered in China since the beginning of the pandemic and around 30,000 deaths have been associated with it. Despite the small number, which can be linked to tough Chinese policies, it has hurt the economy. According to forecasts, the country’s GDP should grow by less than 3%. Despite this negative scenario for Xi Jinping, experts do not believe the resignation calls will come to fruition. “I don’t see Xi Jinping stepping down because he has personalized and taken power in China. This is the first episode in which he openly questions his government. Therefore, I believe that there is no such possibility at the moment,” says Uehara. Carvalho recalls that a Harvard research center pointed out that the Chinese leader has a good approval rating and that for these reasons he does not believe that the demands in the protests will lead to anything. However, he warns that this is a warning from society: “We are so fed up with politics as it is. Change it!”.