Can a China expert explain why xi didn’t let covid burn through the population?

[Anonymous]

I’ve never understood why xi didn’t just let covid rip through the population and achieve herd immunity while keeping the economy open/humming.

Afterall in China, economic growth is everything and he has state control to put down people if they complained that things were open.

Also, covid primarily affects older people, which are usually an economic burden.

For being a cold-eyed calculating type, xi sure sounds like a bleeding heart on covid

[Anonymous]

Older people are respected in China and Asia in general. There is no real herd immunity when you are talking about a virus that mutates and they don't have a good vaccine. For some reason they won't use the western vaccine.

[Anonymous]

This is a good article about the situation:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/28/china-abandon-zero-covid-protests-mass-vaccination

[Anonymous]

people dying at such large number would be catastrophic for the existence of CCP and Xi. Now, its a double whammy - don't want to return to normalcy but also can't push the economy either. In addition, Xi don't want to use western vaccines due to ego. I believe this will be create the downfall for Xi

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This is a good article about the situation:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/28/china-abandon-zero-covid-protests-mass-vaccination

No I know all of this. My question was why the initial policy in 2020 was taken?

I know Chinese are big on saving face which means doubling down on terrible policy but the initial 2020 “zero covid” policy never made sense to me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Older people are respected in China and Asia in general. There is no real herd immunity when you are talking about a virus that mutates and they don't have a good vaccine. For some reason they won't use the western vaccine.

+1. Aging population + the Chinese vaccine (Synovac ???) isn’t the mRNA technology. And Chinese nationalism prevents them from accepting the mRNA vaccine and admitting the American vaccine is superior. Also, they told Modera and Pfizer they wouldn’t “accept” their vaccines until they also got the intellectual property. Which for obvious reasons is never gonna happen.

Result: one of the only nations with very little immunity (and still no vaccine). They have really painted themselves into a corner. They are still where we were in fall 2020, except no vaccine on the horizon. I’ve seen projections of well over a million deaths of they open back up now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:people dying at such large number would be catastrophic for the existence of CCP and Xi. Now, its a double whammy - don't want to return to normalcy but also can't push the economy either. In addition, Xi don't want to use western vaccines due to ego. I believe this will be create the downfall for Xi

I think if economic growth sticks at 3% that’s way worse for cCP than having a few million oldies die

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This is a good article about the situation:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/28/china-abandon-zero-covid-protests-mass-vaccination

No I know all of this. My question was why the initial policy in 2020 was taken?

I know Chinese are big on saving face which means doubling down on terrible policy but the initial 2020 “zero covid” policy never made sense to me

Other countries made zero COVID work— like Australia and New Zealand. But, we’re island-bubbles, and had a robust vaccine campaign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never understood why xi didn’t just let covid rip through the population and achieve herd immunity while keeping the economy open/humming.

Afterall in China, economic growth is everything and he has state control to put down people if they complained that things were open.

Also, covid primarily affects older people, which are usually an economic burden.

For being a cold-eyed calculating type, xi sure sounds like a bleeding heart on covid

Your questions seem to be based on very basic assumptions that suggest you don't actually know anything about China.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never understood why xi didn’t just let covid rip through the population and achieve herd immunity while keeping the economy open/humming.

Afterall in China, economic growth is everything and he has state control to put down people if they complained that things were open.

Also, covid primarily affects older people, which are usually an economic burden.

For being a cold-eyed calculating type, xi sure sounds like a bleeding heart on covid

Your questions seem to be based on very basic assumptions that suggest you don't actually know anything about China.

+1

Or Chinese culture or the way that Chinese people view illness.

Xi didn't impose zero covid on an unwilling populace.

[Anonymous]

People get it over and over again. It contributes to heart issues, sterility etc. Having it "burn through" a population is just plain stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:people dying at such large number would be catastrophic for the existence of CCP and Xi. Now, its a double whammy - don't want to return to normalcy but also can't push the economy either. In addition, Xi don't want to use western vaccines due to ego. I believe this will be create the downfall for Xi

I think if economic growth sticks at 3% that’s way worse for cCP than having a few million oldies die

The real growth would be less much less than 3% or could be negative. China depreciated yuan to boost exports and are giving loans like candies but no takers. In addition, anything that has to do with RE is either stuck or waiting to dump their assets. This could be the beginning of long term significant debt cycle for China. Currently, they have to spend $8 to create $1 of GDP.

[Anonymous]

Xi could be toast in a few months if he doesn't turn ship around.

[Anonymous]

It’s a stupid question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve never understood why xi didn’t just let covid rip through the population and achieve herd immunity while keeping the economy open/humming.

Afterall in China, economic growth is everything and he has state control to put down people if they complained that things were open.

Also, covid primarily affects older people, which are usually an economic burden.

For being a cold-eyed calculating type, xi sure sounds like a bleeding heart on covid

Your questions seem to be based on very basic assumptions that suggest you don't actually know anything about China.

+1



Or Chinese culture or the way that Chinese people view illness.

Xi didn't impose zero covid on an unwilling populace.

Hence OP’s question. Now I’m curious. What about the Chinese culture made them choose their path back in 2020?