The suppression of voices sounding the alarm in the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak led to significant loss of life. The lack of civil and political rights in countries like China can lead to governments prioritizing their own interests over the well-being of their citizens in times of crisis.
This podcast discusses the rise of zero COVID as a policy in China and how it has affected daily life more dramatically during the pandemic, while also exploring its early success in controlling the virus in China.
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.
The World Health Assembly is meeting to negotiate a new pandemic treaty due to the insufficient response of our current structures to such crises. The pandemic outbreak has exposed the weakness of our global institutions, and how they need to be strengthened to tackle this type of crisis in the future.
The new Cold War could lead to a situation similar to that of Muslim Americans after 9/11, with Chinese Americans being unfairly targeted and ostracized due to nationalism. This will especially be the case for those working in university labs or related fields.
The Chinese government is a one-party dictatorship and citizens in Taiwan and Hong Kong are hesitant to unify with mainland China due to fears of losing their democracy and freedom. Local government officials may also cover up crises to avoid losing their jobs.