Koki Kataoka/El Yomiuri Shimbun/AP
In China, in recent weeks, there has been a torrent of dissent developing opposing the government’s relentless zero-covid lockdowns, which officials say are mandatory on people’s lives because of the virus.
In the central city of Zhengzhou this week, the world’s largest iPhone meeting plant clashed with dangerous fabric security guards over a hold on premium payments and chaotic Covid rules.
And on Thursday, in the southwestern city of Chongqing, a resident gave a hot speech criticizing the covid lockdown in his residential complex: “Without freedom, I would die!”He shouted to a cheering crowd, which hailed him as a “hero” and snatched him from several policemen who had tried to take him away.
Meanwhile, hopes that Beijing can simply sign off on a mild relaxation of its strategy, after some minor relaxations of some quarantine requirements, are starting to fade amid a surge in cases as China enters its fourth winter of the pandemic.
This week, Covid cases in the country reached record levels, according to the National Health Commission.