The video of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, has gone viral on social media platforms, Zhao Lijianwhich just seems to lack the words to justify the ‘zero Covid’ policy wanted by the authorities to curb the contagion of Covid.
During its daily press briefing on Tuesday, a Reuters reporter asked him whether China was planning to reconsider its policy guidelines, given people’s “widespread anger and frustration.” For almost a minute the diplomat remained silent, in an embarrassed silence, moving the papers on the lectern, looking down. Then he asked, “Can you repeat the question?” The reporter punctuated his words again. Again an awkward silence, then the answer, in which Zhao Lijian claims that the reporter’s words do not reflect “what really happened”.
Meanwhile in Guangzhouin southern China, protesters clashed with the police. The city has been struggling for weeks with strict anti-Covid measures in an attempt to contain the outbreaks of infection.
A video shows officers in white pandemic suits marching in formation, taking cover under riot shields to protect themselves from thrown objects, and making their way through Haizhu District, with 1.8 million residents.
According to social media posts, the protests took place late yesterday evening and early this morning. Witnesses speak of demonstrators arrested by the police. About ten people were allegedly taken away by the police with their hands tied with cable ties.
After the clashes, the city announced in the morning the reopening of several neighborhoods that were under lockdown: the districts of Panyu, Liwan, Tianhe, Conghua and Huadu have lifted the anti-pandemic restrictions, while Haizhu, the hardest hit by the virus, will allow, “in principle”, that some of the close contacts of the infected are now isolated at home instead of in authorized social centers.
The Guangzhou episode follows weekend protests in many Chinese cities against President Xi Jinping’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy to stop the spread of Covid.
Yesterday Beijing announced that it would ”effectively maintain overall social stability” and Chinese internal security chief Chen Wenqing urged the police to “strike decisively against infiltration and sabotage activities by hostile forces, as well as against illegal and criminal acts which disrupt the social order”.
