The zero covid restrictions, taken by the Beijing administration as part of the fight against the epidemic, are being protested all over the country, especially in Beijing and Shanghai. Zero covid protests have continued without slowing down since November 2022. The protests that emerged against the Covid-19 restrictions began to include other demands later on.
From this point of view, Ankara Center for Crisis and Policy Studies (ANKASAM) presents the views of Umair Khan Pervez, a lecturer in National Defense University, on the protests in China.
1.What is the reason for the zero covid protests that started in China? Are these protests just about covid restriction or are their other reasons?
I am of the point of view that recent China’s protests are out of the covid restriction fatigues and do not pose a serious challenge to the political system of China. Having said this, I also believe that there have been few other reasons for an increase in dissent voices in Chinese society, but they are not the representatives of the majority of the Chinese society. Furthermore, the recent protests also make the rural urban divide more evident, and Beijing should focus on the decades long lingering problem. At the same time, the Covid-19 outbreak has revealed loopholes in China’s health infrastructure. As a result, Beijing has an opportunity to further invest in the health infrastructure.
2- As it will be remembered, the West (USA and EU) had a great demonstration in the 2019 Hong Kong protests and 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. How do you evaluate the West keeping silent against the protests in China?
First, given the scale and duration of the protests, it is too early to analyze the demonstrations and give any response. Secondly, the Western countries have also seen such protests in their own countries. Therefore, the situation does not provide sufficient reason for the West to react to the protests in China. Additionally, the Tiananmen and Hong Kong protests had larger motives with different context; demands in recent protests are more limited.
3-The Beijing government made a statement that it will soften covid restriction. How should we understand this step?
Beijing needed to make a move to keep its stance against the pandemic and pacify protesters both at home and abroad. Therefore, Chinese President Xi Jinping has tended to soften in his zero covid policy. Already, Xi has already emphasized his goal of saving China from the covid pandemic. Therefore, any failure related to the pandemic process cannot be called Xi’s failure.
4- Do you think the restrictions will be lifted quickly?
It should be noted at this point: Restrictions will not be lifted quickly. Because a low percentage of Chinese elderly population has been vaccinated, lifting restrictions could result into rise in the infections as being observed in the case of Hong Kong. Therefore, the Beijing administration finds the complete lifting of restrictions risky. On the other hand, the economic slowdown, unrest in a segment of Chinese population and not being fully successful of eliminating the virus despite strict measures, is a matter of concern for policy makers in Beijing.
Umair Khan Pervez
Umair Pervez Khan is a lecturer in National Defense University. Khan received his master’s degree in International Relations from the National Defense University in Islamabad and his doctorate from Selcuk University in Turkey. Between 2016 and 2017, Khan had worked with the Pakistan Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Relations. Khan has many scientific publications. Khan has also been a guest at different national and international conferences. Main specialization fields; social movements and the foreign policy of South Asian states.
