The Graphic Truth: China's old vs. new zero-COVID

November 11, 2022

and

China somewhat eases zero-COVID restrictions

Luisa Vieira

Change is afoot in China. Beijing’s zero-COVID containment strategy has been widely criticized at home and abroad, setting markets aflutter, and disrupting economies and supply chains worldwide. But now, just weeks after President Xi Jinping secured his norm-defying third term as CCP secretary-general, his new Politburo Standing Committee has issued changes to China’s zero-COVID policy. The news saw Hong Kong and mainland markets react positively, and online inbound flight bookings doubled overnight, but economists remain wary and are advising caution. We explore the differences between the two policies.

From Your Site Articles

What We’re Watching: Trump changes tack on Ukraine, Cameroon’s long-serving leader isn’t done yet, Israel jumps into Syria’s sectarian clashes

Servicemen from the mobile air defence unit of the 115th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fire a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft cannon towards a Russian drone during an overnight shift, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv Region, Ukraine June 2, 2025.

REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova/File Photo

The Graphic Truth: China's old vs. new zero-COVID

GZEROMEDIA

More from GZERO Media

Epstein conspiracies divide Trump's MAGA base

In this Quick Take, Ian Bremmer unpacks the Jeffrey Epstein file controversy and the growing backlash from Donald Trump’s MAGA base.

Three things we learned from the Club World Cup

London-based, American-owned Chelsea stunned Qatari-owned, French-based Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final yesterday, but the dress rehearsal for next year’s World Cup faced some hiccups.

Graphic Truth: Trump increases tariff threats on top trade partners

What We’re Watching: Trump changes tack on Ukraine, Cameroon’s long-serving leader isn’t done yet, Israel jumps into Syria’s sectarian clashes

Hard Numbers: Former Nigerian leader dies, Sinner avenges French Open loss, preliminary Air India crash probe, & More

GZEROMEDIA

The dangerous new nuclear arms race

The world is entering a new nuclear era—one that’s more chaotic and dangerous than the last, raising the risk of catastrophe. Ian Bremmer discusses the growing nuclear risk with Admiral James Stavridis on the latest episode of GZERO World.

The return of the nuclear threat, with Admiral James Stavridis

Faith in the US nuclear umbrella is wavering and adversaries are stockpiling their arsenals. How worried should we be?

Do nuclear weapons make a country safer?

Do nuclear weapons make a country stronger or more vulnerable? North Korea and Ukraine took very different paths in the 1990s, to very different results.

AI for Good depends on global cooperation, says ITU's Doreen Bogdan-Martin

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the ITU, discusses the urgent global challenge of the widening digital divide in AI access and policy at the 2025 AI for Good Summit, in an exclusive Global Stage interview with GZERO's Tony Maciulis.

HARD NUMBERS: Myanmar monastery suffers deadly airstrike, US State Department to cut staff, Nvidia sets valuation record, Mahmoud Khalil sues US government, Haiti’s gangs kill thousands

The Graphic Truth: China's old vs. new zero-COVID

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

More from GZERO Media

In this Quick Take, Ian Bremmer unpacks the Jeffrey Epstein file controversy and the growing backlash from Donald Trump’s MAGA base.

London-based, American-owned Chelsea stunned Qatari-owned, French-based Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final yesterday, but the dress rehearsal for next year’s World Cup faced some hiccups.

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

The world is entering a new nuclear era—one that’s more chaotic and dangerous than the last, raising the risk of catastrophe. Ian Bremmer discusses the growing nuclear risk with Admiral James Stavridis on the latest episode of GZERO World.

Faith in the US nuclear umbrella is wavering and adversaries are stockpiling their arsenals. How worried should we be?

Do nuclear weapons make a country stronger or more vulnerable? North Korea and Ukraine took very different paths in the 1990s, to very different results.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the ITU, discusses the urgent global challenge of the widening digital divide in AI access and policy at the 2025 AI for Good Summit, in an exclusive Global Stage interview with GZERO's Tony Maciulis.