Decryption
The Zero Covid Policy in China: Popular Anger and Economic Risks
Audio 7:30 p.m.
Queue for an anti-Covid test in Shanghai on April 4 (Illustration image).
AP - Ding Ting
By: Anne Corpet Follow
1 min
China is facing its worst epidemic outbreak since January 2020. As a result, some 23 Chinese cities are in total or partial containment, or about 193 million people.
Shanghai, the economic capital of the country, has been put under a bell.
The supply of water and food has become very complicated, families have been separated by the authorities, which has given rise to unprecedented scenes of protest.
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Popular anger has even forced the authorities to soften a little the very strict system put in place.
The government's zero Covid policy affects the daily lives of the population, but also the country's economy: confined areas represent nearly 14% of China's Gross Domestic Product.
A few months before the important congress of the Communist Party, could the health crisis give way to a political crisis?
Does the zero Covid policy entail risks for the Chinese economy, but also for the world?
Why does China maintain this zero Covid policy when the Omicron variant seems less dangerous than the previous ones?
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Also to listen:
How will China be able to get out of its zero Covid strategy?
A program prepared by Anne Corpet, with the help of Sigrid Azeroual and produced by Claude Battista.
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