CHINA ANTI VIRUS
Xi Jinping's recipe for total control: An army of eyes and ears
A police officer in a Beijing apartment complex uses a color-coded system to identify high-risk residents. Xi Jinping aims for pervasive surveillance in China, expanding control and embedding the party in daily life.
Biden and Xi discuss Taiwan, AI and fentanyl in a push to return to regular leader talks
US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call discussing various issues like Taiwan, artificial intelligence, and security matters, aiming to restore regular dialogue between the two nations' leaders. The call follows their November summit, focusing on strengthening ties and cooperation.
Chinese premier says economic growth target is about 5%, on par with last year's rate
The consumer-led recovery hoped for after the end of anti-virus controls that kept millions of people at home faltered midway through last year, as falling housing prices and worries over jobs left many families either reluctant or unable to spend more. Control over the economy increasingly is concentrated under leader Xi Jinping.
China will no longer require COVID antigen test for inbound travellers
China will no longer require inbound travelers to undergo a pre-departure antigen test for COVID-19 starting from August 30. This move marks a significant milestone towards ending the virus restrictions imposed in China since early 2020. The country has already started issuing visas to foreign tourists and has temporarily eased its visa regulations for Indian citizens.
China health officials lash out at WHO, defend virus search
The WHO comments were "offensive and disrespectful," said the director of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shen Hongbing. He accused the WHO of "attempting to smear China" and said it should avoid helping others "politicize COVID-19."
China economy recovering but hampered by virus outbreaks
The Zhengtai Restaurant in the northwestern city of Jinzhong closed for two weeks because almost all its 57 employees were infected, according to the manager, Chang Zhigang. Chang said the business has lost about 2 million yuan ($300,000) per year since the start of the pandemic. "We don't expect the situation to turn around within a short time, given there are very few people on the street," Chang said.
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China to start issuing new passports as virus curbs ease
China stopped issuing passports at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 as part of the world's strictest anti-virus controls and tried to block students, businesspeople and other travellers from going abroad. Tourist travel into China was shut down. Businesspeople and others who were allowed in were quarantined for up to one week.
President Xi Jinping says China faces 'new Covid situation', calls for targeted measures to curb the virus
Population groups with a high risk of infections, especially people aged 60 and above, people with serious underlying health conditions and those with low immunity are advised to receive a second booster shot six months after the first, the report said. Those who have received three doses of inactivated vaccines can choose a different type of vaccine -- recommended by the government -- for the second booster, namely a recombinant protein vaccine, an adenovirus vector vaccine or an influenza virus vector vaccine, according to experts.
COVID-linked deaths seen in Beijing after virus rules eased
When an employee with a clipboard shouted the name of the dead, a relative trundled up to the coffin to examine the body. One of the relatives told The Associated Press their loved one had been infected with COVID-19. Deaths linked to the coronavirus are appearing in Beijing after weeks of China reporting no fatalities, even as the country is seeing a surge of cases.
China reels under massive coronavirus wave; official blames anti-zero-Covid protests on 'foreign forces'
While many with heavy fever waited outside the clinics, the Omicron virus is having a field day with most of the apartment blocks, which were earlier under the cover of zero-Covid reported fast-increasing cases. The virus is not sparing anyone, including Chinese Foreign Ministry officials, Beijing-based diplomats and journalists.
China trade shrinks amid virus pressure, interest rate hikes
Trade had been forecast to weaken as global demand cooled following interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve and central banks in Europe and Asia to rein in surging inflation. Chinese consumer demand has been hurt by a "zero-COVID" strategy that shuts down large sections of cities to contain virus outbreaks. That has disrupted business and confined millions of people to their homes for weeks at a time.
China virus protests hit Hong Kong after mainland rallies
About 50 students sang at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and some lit candles in a show of support for those in mainland cities who demonstrated against restrictions that have confined millions of people to their homes. Hiding their faces to avoid official retaliation, the students chanted, "No PCR tests but freedom," and "oppose dictatorship, don't be slaves."
Workers protest at virus-hit China iPhone factory
Videos on Chinese social media that said they were filmed at the factory in the central city of Zhengzhou showed thousands of people in masks facing rows of police in white protective suits with plastic riot shields. One person was hit in the head with a club and another was taken away with his arms held behind his back.
China anti-virus curbs spur fears of global economic impact
The ruling Communist Party promised on Nov. 11 to reduce disruptions from its "zero- COVID" strategy by making controls more flexible. But the latest wave of outbreaks is challenging that, prompting major cities including Beijing to close off populous districts, shut stores and offices and order factories to isolate their workforces from outside contact.
China consumer, factory activity down as virus controls rise
Retail sales sank 0.5% compared with a year ago, down from September's 2.5% expansion, as millions of people were confined to their homes, government data showed Tuesday. Growth in factory output decelerated to 5% from the previous month's 6.3%.
China tightens restrictions as rise in virus cases reported
Nationwide, a total of 11,773 infections were found over the past 24 hours, including 10,351 in people with no symptoms, the National Health Commission announced. China's numbers are low, but the increase over the past week is a challenge to a “zero-Covid” strategy that aims to isolate every infected person.
Workers walk out of iPhone factory, highlighting virus woes
Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision Electronics Inc., didn't respond to questions about how many employees were infected, whether new cases were occurring or to complaints that people who were sick in early October received no treatment. The activist group China Labour Watch said Foxconn was under pressure from Apple to maintain its output of the iPhone 14 during its "peak production season."
China accuses Washington of cyber-spying on Northwestern Polytechnical University
China accuses the United States of spying on universities, energy and internet companies and other targets. Washington accuses Beijing of stealing commercial secrets and has announced criminal charges against Chinese military officers. The U.S. actions "seriously endanger China's national security," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning. She also accused Washington of eavesdropping on Chinese mobile phones and stealing text messages.
China backs away from growth goal, sticks to virus controls
Retails sales, a major driver of growth, were off 0.7% from a year earlier in the first half after plunging 11% in April following the temporary shutdown of Shanghai and some other major cities to fight virus outbreaks.
China backs away from growth goal, sticks to virus controls
Forecasters don't expect Beijing to ease anti-virus controls until at least after a ruling party congress in October or November, when Xi is expected to try to break with tradition and award himself a third five-year term as party leader.
China's economic growth falls to 0.4 pc amid virus shutdowns
The anti-virus controls disrupted shipping in Shanghai, the world's busiest port, and disrupted manufacturing there and in other major cities. Millions of families were confined to their homes, depressing consumer spending.
China's trade rebounds in May as anti-virus curbs ease
Exports surged 16.9% over a year ago to $308.3 billion, up from April’s 3.7% growth, a customs agency statement said Thursday. Imports rose 4.1% to $229.5 billion, accelerating from the previous month’s 0.7%.
How China's anti-virus spending is giving a big boost to its health and tech infra
China's 'zero-COVID' policy of constantly monitoring, testing and isolating its citizens to prevent the spread of the coronavirus has battered much of the country's economy, but it has created bubbles of growth in the medical, technology and construction sectors.
Shanghai says lockdown to ease as virus spread mostly ends
Vice Mayor Zong Ming said 15 out of Shanghai's 16 districts had eliminated virus transmission among those not already in quarantine.
Shanghai allows 4 million out of homes as virus rules ease
China's case numbers in its latest infection surge are relatively low, but the ruling Communist Party is enforcing a "zero-COVID" strategy that has shut down major cities to isolate every case.
China's March exports grow despite virus; imports flat
Exports rose to $276.1 billion despite anti-virus controls in Shanghai and other industrial centers that are causing factories to reduce production, customs data showed Wednesday. Imports rose less than 1% to $228.7 billion.
China shuts business center of Shenzhen to fight virus surge
Everyone in Shenzhen, a finance and technology center that abuts Hong Kong, will undergo three rounds of testing after 60 new cases were reported Sunday. All businesses except those that supply food, fuel and other necessities were ordered to close or work from home.
China reports major fall in virus cases in locked-down Xi'an
Xi'an has seen more than 1,600 cases but no deaths in its latest surge. That's a small number compared to outbreaks in other countries, a sign that China's “zero tolerance” strategy of quarantining every case, mass testing and trying to block new infections from abroad has helped it to contain major outbreaks.
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