Tuesday, May 10, 2022

What Is Going On With China's Shanghai Lockdown?

You don't need an advanced degree to understand that this is just goofy:

But for some reason the Chinese authorities are not just pursuing actions they know don't work such as lockdowns and spraying the streets etc. but they are vehemently defending what they are doing.

When the New York Times (warning: state approved media) questioned some aspects of the Chinese response last week the Chinese media went a bit whack.

From Xinhua (warning: state approved media), May 7  

While China is still checking new epidemic flare-ups with its dynamic zero-COVID approach, some Western bigots sensed a chance to talk badly about the country's anti-pandemic efforts and heap scorn on the Chinese government's epidemic control policies.

For example, in its latest rant against Shanghai's anti-epidemic fight, The New York Times (NYT) has gone to great lengths to depict an inept Chinese government and question the "legitimacy" of the Communist Party of China (CPC) "in a time of crisis."

But all those jabs have crumbled in the face of facts. As China has struck a fine balance between pandemic control and economic development, its way of taming the virus has proven to be scientific and effective, and has testified to the country's institutional strength....
*****
....The Chinese people's growing confidence in the government's epidemic control policies, as well as the international community's broad recognition of China's anti-pandemic achievements, have slapped the NYT and its like in the face. In the time ahead, more practice will prove that China's epidemic control strategy is the right choice that can stand the test of history.
 
And China Daily (warning: state approved media), May 8

Practice has proved that China's prevention and control policy is scientific and effective. Determined by the needs of the situation, it takes full advantage of the institutional advantages of the country to serve the people. It will stand the test of history.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202205/08/WS6277a72ba310fd2b29e5b4d9.html

And Asia Free Press (you know the schtick):

China will surely win war against COVID-19 with its scientific, effective epidemic control policy: CPC committee chaired by Xi Jinping

https://www.asiafreepress.com/news/china-will-surely-win-war-against-covid-19-with-its-scientific-effective-epidemic-control-policy-cpc-committee-chaired-by-xi-jinping/

So here with some observations and thoughts is someone who does have a couple advanced degrees, Vinay Prasad, MD MPH at his substack, May 7:

China: Why?
Why has china chosen the COVIDZero path: the road to ruin

China is engaged in prolonged lockdowns and other draconian measures in an attempt to keep COVID at bay. They are like the child trying to protect a sand-castle against a rising tide. Digging trenches, bailing water, while the ocean rises. We all know how that ends. Here I want to talk about 2 concerns China raises.

First, obviously, it is a humanitarian issue and human rights violation. China is showing the brutal power of authoritarian government. Executing pets. Detaining people. Pushing people to hunger. Separating children from parents. Horrific actions in pursuit of a delusion. The public is powerless to stop it. Other governments incapable of helping. And the Western pundits won’t even condemn it, as they pushed for similar measures at home— although they may wish to deny it. This is the inevitable logic of zero covid.

Second, the big question I have: Why? We can be simultaneously critical of China, while acknowledging that many smart people are in China. Their engineers have constructed impressive mag-lev trains. They have built damns and other public works projects that dwarf other nations. China has a booming biotech industry. There are many smart people in China.

So how come so many smart people are pursuing such a dumb philosophy?

If I were to advise China, it would be:

Step 1: screen for natural immunity, and let all naturally immune return to normal life

Step 2: Buy all the Pfizer and Moderna vax you can, and vaccinate every person over the age of 50. Vaccinate every overweight or heavy smoker or person with comorbidities from 20-50.

Step 3: Let society resume 100%, there will be breakthroughs, deal with that with medical infrastructure.

If you continue COVIDZero you will wreck your economy and society, and may even face domestic revolt if you keep squeezing. And ultimately, like the child’s castle, the ocean will sweep you away.

But surely the experts & leaders in China know this. There are many smart people there who clearly know that this is inevitable. So why then is the government pursuing the wrong idea....

....MUCH MORE

 Personally I think it has something to do with the Chinese Communist Party leadership desiring this result:

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