With reports that funeral homes and crematoriums across Beijing are struggling to keep up with demand, the risks of China’s rapid post-pandemic reopening are skyrocketing.
In a few weeks’ time, hundreds of millions of Chinese people will cram into planes, trains and cars to celebrate an annual tradition denied to them for the past three years.kicks off in late January when many in China make the annual pilgrimage home for the Lunar New Year celebrations to see distant relatives and celebrate the country’s most important holiday.
However, the end of zero-COVID is not the end of the pandemic and millions will be carrying the virus with them when Year of the Rabbit celebrations kick off on January 22., and it is still unclear what the human cost of abruptly ending years of excessive controls will be. “I understand that some may be sceptical about whether Xi will follow through on these three issues, but in my view, these pragmatic paths are all in Xi’s own self-interest.”
Officially, the government says deaths are in the single digits which many people on the ground say sounds unrealistic. Reuters has reported that funeral homes and crematoriums across Beijing are struggling to keep up with demand.Many in China are still in shock at the abrupt lifting of the restrictions which dominated their life for years in early December.
“I was surprised to see protests against central government policy. Xi Jinping was probably quite surprised too.
“If you only look at domestic factors: there are two variables which will determine the outcome of the economy – COVID response and crisis management.
Xi is also looking to rekindle his signature Belt and Road infrastructure initiative in 2023 with plans to host an international forum that year.
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