Why does China still have a zero-Covid lockdown strategy? - BBC News

Covid lockdowns in China remain the strategy to deal with outbreaks of cases, whereas the majority of other countries have scrapped most restrictions.

Beijing authorities are trying to stamp out an outbreak with mass testing and avoid a repeat of the city-wide restrictions that have kept Shanghai in lockdown for a month.

Despite the measures, on top of tightly-controlled Chinese social media, videos have emerged of protests against lockdowns, such as in Shanghai.

Meanwhile, long queues outside supermarkets and shops were seen despite government assurances there is sufficient food.

The BBC's Ros Atkins explains how the country decided on its approach.

#China #BBCNews

[PRubin-rhsr]

They just stumbled upon the best justification to increase their authority

[guyh]

Time to diversify supply chains. The Chinese monopoly was never healthy and we have discovered why over the last two years.

[nuomitang]

Basically if you have 1 case left they will put millions people behind the bar

[BobBobOnYouTube]

I wonder how many Chinese people have had a false positive test, got sent to one of those quarantine centres, and then caught covid off of someone in the quarantine centre.

[pengseahang]

They set out zero covid from day one. If they abandon now, Emperor Xi will lose face ! 🤣🤣🤣

[churrothiev]

When you look at china, I want you to remember one phrase: saving face. That's all. That will explain everything they do. One case is enough to lock down an airport. Very reactionary. Why? The people at the top need to save face.

[defenderofdemocracy]

It's the idea that they can control their people so precisely that this type of strategy is possible. There is no civil disobedience. Other countries can't do this because the people will complain and petition or riot.

Edited: there are protests going on in China, but in general the population is fairly obedient and can execute directives from authorities.

[willsteuer]

Mathematically it is impossible. So that tells me that there is an alternative goal in mind. Never under estimate an Insane Clown Pose.

[mohamedsefiani]

Thanks God that I'm not living in a non sense country. Even though I'm living in a stupid one.

[SY-tnio]

It’s a strategy to create global shortages of supplies

[ltkehgf]

Because China has 250 million elderly people. . And in China. The old are as precious as the young. .
China is a moral society. not a Darwinian society

[messrsandersonco]

In conclusion, this is about saving face for China!

[johnriley]

I'm British living in Beijing and let me tell you it's absolute bullshit what's going on. We've been tested 3 times this week and it's all for show. The restrictions are just stupid. I can go into Starbucks but i hasve to wear a mask to get in but can take it off whilst having a coffee yet when I walk to the toilet I have to put it on. I have to scan a QR to get into a shopping mall and then again to get into every shop in that mall. Ludicrous. And on top of all this nobody in charge of the testing has a clue what's going on either. It's just doing something for the sake of looking like you're doing something. None of these moves have any affect on the numbers.

[lvqkwdpsjn]

Ros and the other experts did not mention the role of the "origin of covid-19" narrative has had.

[OhPhilly]

The world is really going to feel the knock on effects of this in a few months.. Don't they understand it's futile trying to eliminate it.

[toto-yftc]

Macao had ZERO covid death. Can you believe it? The number of Covid deaths is highly political. Take the eastern countries of the EU. At first, they pretended they had no covid death and were given as an example of what to do although they were not doing anything special. Then the EU borrowed money for a relief package and in order to be given money, those poor countries suddenly displayed so much death their number became double of those in the West overnight.

[neffynavas]

Is about control. Nothing else. Blocking this channel... Moving on.

[sebastianvergara]

Beware of the WHY , there is something behind it that we don't know yet..

[unbreakableldorado]

They still have it cuz they can't just tell their population that Winnie the Pooh has been wrong all along..

[lovekunqu]

Mass testing already became the number 1 source of spreading, according to stats of epidemiology survey in Shanghai. Plus the materials used for testing are often manufactured in poor condition. Testing, an herbal product, stuff distribution, quarantine building are huge money makers. People who have connections with the government are making good money from the lockdown.