Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 17) — Chinese President Xi Jinping defended his country’s pandemic policy as he faced the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Sunday.
In his report to the party congress, Xi said the government prioritized people’s lives above all else and their so-called “zero-COVID-19 policy” enabled them to prevent domestic outbreaks and entry of imported cases.
“In responding to the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, we put the people and their lives above all else, worked to prevent both imported cases and domestic resurgences, and tenaciously pursued a dynamic zero-COVID policy,” he said.
The Chinese president added that their pandemic response is an all-out people’s war against the virus.
“In launching an all-out people’s war to stop the spread of the virus, we have protected the people’s health and safety to the greatest extent possible and made tremendously encouraging achievements in both epidemic response and economic and social development,” he said.
Analyst: Easing of restrictions may be gradual
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Beijing-based journalist and expert on China’s domestic affairs Benjamin Lim said any changes on China’s pandemic policy won’t happen or be reset overnight.
“Any easing will be gradual. It won’t be reset overnight; it won’t be back overnight,” Lim said. “They started allowing students back so there will be easing, the number of quarantine days has been reduced from three weeks to two weeks, and so the easing has started. The winter is coming, so China is worried that COVID may strike back again so they are careful, prudent in opening up.”
He also acknowledged that COVID-19 restrictions imposed by China have an impact on its economic growth.
“The economy has been sagging, struggling, they need to open up, to buoy the economy, to boost the economy, so they will do it gradually,” Lim added.
