China is facing a tough choice between keeping its citizens safe by maintaining zero-covid policies or losing their trust by relaxing the restrictions. The unspoken agreement between the government and people, where civil liberties are sacrificed for prosperity and safety, is at risk due to the prolonged pandemic.
The Chinese government has implemented a health code system to monitor and prevent the spread of COVID-19. If your health code shows red, you are not allowed to enter public spaces like malls or public transport while a yellow health code can create difficulties in accessing such places.
The zero-COVID approach in China has been hard on small businesses, migrant and factory workers, and has taken away some civil liberties. Although people who attended protests were later questioned by the police, mass protests did not happen on October 4th in Beijing.
The Chinese government faces a dilemma in continuing its zero-COVID policy as it risks losing people's trust or sacrificing people's health. The country has invested too much in the policy, and it is seen as a proof that the Chinese government is better than any other government system.