Surviving in the World: Spotlight on Northeast Asia – COVID-4ever
Welcome back to Surviving in the World (SIW), your biweekly newsletter written by students for students interested in global affairs. We always try to present select topics in global news in an easy-to-understand format.
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In today’s letter, we cover conflicts going around Northeast Asia, brought to you by Keonhee (Andrew) Ahn, SIW’s Editor in Chief.
Word Count: 718 / Time: 6 minute read.
Workers in protective suits keep watch on a street during a COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai, China, on April 16, 2022. (Source: Photography by Aly Song)
Situational Awareness: COVID lockdown in Shanghai (still?)
Since March 27th, COVID cases in Shanghai have been reaching record highs due to the Omicron variant. To continue their “zero-COVID policy,” the Chinese government declared a strict lockdown in the city, banning most residents from leaving their homes.
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Children are required to be separated from their parents if tested positive.
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“Some of the toddlers quarantined with [my son] lost the ability to speak. Another friend's 6-month-old came out with his legs covered in scratches, graffiti on his hands and open sores…"
— Suki Wang, resident of Shanghai, interviewed by NPR
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People with COVID are in poor quarantine facilities.
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To deal with the sudden rise of positive cases, the Shanghai government prioritized speed and efficiency over quality when constructing quarantine buildings.
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There are no showers.
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There are not enough toilets for everyone.
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“They are patients, not criminals. But here it’s like they’re criminals, and being sent off to suffer.”
— Zang Chen, resident of Shanghai, interviewed by Reuters
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The people’s response: Many Shanghai residents are even prohibited from leaving their homes to buy food, and the groceries that the government has provided have been limited.
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Local law enforcement officers have been strictly enforcing the lockdown, dragging everyone off the streets and arresting people that have snuck out of their homes.
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The public has been fighting back in response, resisting arrest and harassing law enforcement by physically stopping policemen from approaching and swearing at public health officials.
Protesters clash with police in Shanghai amid a strict COVID lockdown. (Source: Weibo post, used by BBC)
Why this is happening: The main goal of the Chinese government is to completely get rid of COVID and continue the nation’s “zero-COVID policy.”
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The Shanghai government believed that such a strict lockdown will quickly restore both economic and daily activities by stamping out new cases.
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However, the lockdown backfired because COVID cases remain high and the citizens continue to suffer as they lose income and experience separation from their families.
Global consequences: Since many international companies like Apple and Samsung rely on China for their manufacturing, the already-problematic global supply chain now faces more obstacles to recovery.
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Truck drivers are required to take daily COVID tests prior to delivering goods to or from Shanghai. However, due to daily mass-testing of all Shanghai citizens, many of these drivers have had to wait longer for their test results. This has led to a shortage of truck drivers that are available for transporting materials to and from manufacturers.
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Moreover, companies with factories located in Shanghai can no longer continue their production as most employees are under strict lockdown.
What to watch out for: Shanghai is China’s most populous city. If the local government fails to contain the virus, China will go through a major outbreak because, ironically, the country lacks herd immunity due to the success of its “zero-COVID policy.”
Then, more people will have to experience strict lockdown, aggressive protests may become more widespread, and supply chain issues will get worse unless the government loosens its “zero-COVID policy.”
What do CI students think?
If you had the chance to talk to the Chinese government, what types of solutions would you provide to Shanghai’s current situation?
Let’s take a look at Dylan’s response!
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