The Politburo Standing Committee in its meeting on May 5, chaired by Chinese President Xi
Jinping, reasserted that it has decided to continue with the "dynamic zero-Covid" policy.
“Persistence is victory” the meeting declared. It said "practice has proven that our prevention
and control policy is determined by the nature and purpose of the Party, our prevention and
control policies can stand the test of history, and our prevention and control measures are
scientific and effective. We have won the battle to defend Wuhan, and we will certainly be able
to win the battle to defend Shanghai". It made no mention of balancing Covid prevention and
the economy. Hinting at discontent in Party ranks, the meeting issued a sharp warning: "We
should have a profound, complete and comprehensive understanding of the epidemic
prevention and control policies set by the Party Central Committee, resolutely overcome the
problems of inadequate understanding, inadequate preparation and inadequate work, resolutely
overcome the ideas of contempt, indifference and self-righteousness, always keep a clear head,
unswervingly adhere to the general policy of dynamic zero-Covid, and resolutely oppose all
distortions, doubts and denials. We will resolutely struggle against all words and deeds that
distort, doubt, and deny our epidemic prevention policies".
Meanwhile, Reuters (May 5) reported that the former Editor-in-Chief of Global Times Hu Xijin
put up a post on May 4 saying: ""Shanghai has fallen," Beijing has to either find less costly
ways of tackling its outbreak or "to tell the whole Chinese society the truth" that disruptive
consequences cannot be avoided. "The former requires wisdom, the latter courage." The post
was swiftly removed and Hu Xijin did not respond to a Reuters request for comment sent to
his Weibo account."
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