Why is China sticking to its zero-COVID policy? | DW News

More than two years into the pandemic, China is still sticking to its zero-COVID strategy, while the rest of the world has moved toward living with the virus. Here's why.

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#china #zerocovid #xijinping

[stormrider]

"A lie told often enough becomes the truth." - Vladimir Lenin

[Cryosxify]

when you only care about image you lock yourself out of making good decisions

[VanhA-dbkz]

The old Asian "fear of losing face".
Simple. They know it's a failure but admitting it would result in losing face, thus complete humiliation.

[internationalsunshine]

I think is more about protecting their pride than protecting the people.

[lamenamethefirst]

The answer to the question in the title is simple - Because image is more important for the Chinese government than the actual wellbeing of the people.

[martinoamello]

As Peter Ziehan has pointed out repeatedly any company that hasn't already begun moving it's manufacturing out of China is going to be stuck there for a long time and may never quite recover.. If China does relax it's policy they could quickly become overcome with infections and death, but in the meantime they're losing foreign investment much faster than they'll be able to attract it ever again.

[aoebb]

This does not explain anything. Vietnam also sticked to zero-covid strategy in the begining of the pandemic then now it quickly changes to live-with-covid. There is no death in Vietnam rightnow. This is not the first time China does weird things, can not use logic with these kind of people.

[ShipCreek]

The CCP & China are stuffed. There's no getting out of this.
There's a good chunk of me is quite gleeful at this prospect. But then my heart is also saddened for the Chinese citizens who have only ever wanted a happy, healthy, productive family life.

[pasta]

“When the market crash is inevitable, but the heart rates are impeccable.”

[QueenetBowie]

Politicians love to double down on bad decisions. Makes me wonder what people in Shanghai locked in their rooms think when they see videos and pictures online of the rest of the world just going about their daily lives again.

[TaiwanNationStatusQuo]

Because they know people are obdient and loyal. They also know the 1.4 billion gold fishes rely on the water the Party give them, even if the water is toxic, and remember only the glorious victories the Party tell them.

[WhackTony]

25 million in just one city!? That is maddening.

[alexanderdantonio]

How much you wanna bet mini fridge sales in Shanghai go off the charts?

[jameswyre]

Topdown societies have issues with flexibility, making a correct decision at the right time, and with corruption sometimes vastly distorting what decisions are made.

[encabsss]

I have nothing against about the westerners but why guys so worried about China zero covid lockdown? If China is priority is about the covid rather than economy, then just let them!

[gigelchiazna]

Is there different covid mortality for Covid in China compared to other countries? How can this show can go on for so long?!?

[wordscapes]

CCP's HUGE bureaucracy is unwieldy and slow to change and totally incapable of admitting to mistakes. Same old story.

[TheKkpop]

Life is precious, save it. you can dream about better life tomorrow when you're still healthy today. Dead man has no future.

[patrickneky]

I feel like this report lacked some context and was slightly skewed. Like the reported mental health crisis that was caused by the lock down and the brutality that was enforced on it's citizens to maintain the zero COVID policy. Don't know what "success" can be measured or "face can be saved" when you cause equal amount of harm. Also to say China is trying to accomplish this without help from outsiders should be questioned. There have been reports chinese espionage among pharmaceutical companies and research institutes. Finally I feel like asking a honest opinion/assessment from a professor in Hong Kong could be tainted due to retribution from the Chinese government.

[thTrombone]

I don't get why they discuss concern with the party's image. Has something changed? As I understand:
There is no opposition party. Anyone who disagrees with the party gets "free correctional assistance" and a promise of permanent unemployment in anything but menial situations.