It’s a strange sight that’s become standard in huge Chinese cities; empty and deserted streets with literally no signs of life.
That’s the result of the “zero-Covid” strategy, which is the mastermind of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Since late August, 74 cities have shut down their cities, reacting to a single breakout with the most extreme and bizarre policy in the world, affecting over 313 million citizens who aren’t allowed to go to work, the park, the mall, or anywhere else without permission.
Many restrictions are still in place, with 33 cities under some form of lockdown.
While most of the world has found a way to live with the virus, and over-reaching methods like this championed by Anthony Fauci and progressive Democratic leaders in the U.S. have been proven to be ridiculous, China stands alone with these rigid shutdowns.
Of course, the reasons have nothing to do with health and are all politically motivated. Xi is expected to be anointed President for another five-year term in October; it would be his third.
Experts believe Xi wants his re-election to be a party and celebration, and having large Covid outbreaks would diminish that.
Yanzhong Huan is the senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations. Here’s what he told CNN.
“The Party wants to make sure nothing untoward, such as a major outbreak, could potentially threaten social stability, shadow the leadership transition process — and not to mention tarnish Xi’s personal leadership credibility.”
Chengdu is a city of 21 million people that went on lockdown last Thursday. The digital testing system crashed, and now there are long lines of people at testing sites hoping to test negative and then receive a small amount of freedom and ability to move around.
Chinese citizens are speaking out about the draconian measures. How it is not only negatively impacting lives, it costs lives as people with legitimate medical issues are not allowed to get the care they need.
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