Joining a long list of Western internet platforms that have opted out of the China market, vacation rental firm Airbnb Inc is shutting down its business in China from July 30.

Citing a source close to the company, AFP reported that Airbnb has taken the decision because the lockdown in China shows no sign of ending any time soon.

According to the source, Airbnb will no longer book stays or visitor "experiences" in China. Instead, it will focus on helping people there with travel plans outside the country.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-shanghai-intensifies-lockdown-477983/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The "zero-COVID" approach adopted by the Chinese Communist Party has been biting into prospects for the world's second-biggest economy.

The San Francisco-based company launched its business in China six years ago and has booked stays at homes there for some 25 million guests.

Nathan Blecharczyk, co-founder of Airbnb, wrote in the letter, “We have made the difficult decision to refocus our efforts in China on outbound travel and suspend our homes and Experiences of Hosts in China, starting from July 30, 2022.”

It comes after Western internet firms such as Linkedin and Yahoo retreated from China citing reasons ranging from censorship to operation difficulties in the country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-russian-invasion-over-61000-airbnb-bookings-made-in-ukraine-in-48-hours-not-for-staying-459576">Also read |&nbsp;Amid Russian invasion, over 61,000 Airbnb bookings made in Ukraine in 48 hours. Not for staying</a>

“The decision was not easy for us and I know that it is even more difficult for you,” Blecharczyk said.

“We’ve built and grown a thriving Host community in China together and have welcomed more than 25 million guest arrivals since 2016.”

According to a report published in the New York Times, stays in China have accounted for roughly 1 per cent of Airbnb’s business in recent years.

Out of Airbnb's six million all across the globe, it had 150,000 listings in China which will be closed but Chinese users would still be allowed to book listings and experiences abroad.

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV&nbsp;here:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Joining a long list of Western internet platforms that have opted out of the China market, vacation rental firm Airbnb Inc is shutting down its business in China from July 30.

Joining a long list of Western internet platforms that have opted out of the China market, vacation rental firm Airbnb Inc is shutting down its business in China from July 30. Citing a source close to the company, AFP reported that Airbnb has taken the decision because the lockdown in China shows no sign of ending any time soon. According to the source, Airbnb will no longer book stays or visitor "experiences" in China. Instead, it will focus on helping people there with travel plans outside the country. The "zero-COVID" approach adopted by the Chinese Communist Party has been biting into prospects for the world's second-biggest economy. The San Francisco-based company launched its business in China six years ago and has booked stays at homes there for some 25 million guests. Nathan Blecharczyk, co-founder of Airbnb, wrote in the letter, “We have made the difficult decision to refocus our efforts in China on outbound travel and suspend our homes and Experiences of Hosts in China, starting from July 30, 2022.” It comes after Western internet firms such as Linkedin and Yahoo retreated from China citing reasons ranging from censorship to operation difficulties in the country. Also read | Amid Russian invasion, over 61,000 Airbnb bookings made in Ukraine in 48 hours. Not for staying “The decision was not easy for us and I know that it is even more difficult for you,” Blecharczyk said. “We’ve built and grown a thriving Host community in China together and have welcomed more than 25 million guest arrivals since 2016.” According to a report published in the New York Times, stays in China have accounted for roughly 1 per cent of Airbnb’s business in recent years. Out of Airbnb's six million all across the globe, it had 150,000 listings in China which will be closed but Chinese users would still be allowed to book listings and experiences abroad. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

Home rental service Airbnb is going to shut down its business in China from July 30

Authorities in Shanghai declared the city had achieved "zero-Covid" across all its districts amid the lockdown.

The latest development comes as residents continue to remain in lockdown which was put in place last month as health officials conducted several rounds of mass testing.

The country has been hit by the Omicron variant in the past three months after struggling to contain the Delta outbreak last year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghai-couple-braves-covid-19-lockdown-to-get-married-in-car-park-of-their-building-476884">Also Read:&nbsp;</a><a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/shanghai-couple-braves-covid-19-lockdown-to-get-married-in-car-park-of-their-building-476884" hreflang="en">Shanghai couple braves COVID-19 lockdown to get married in car park of their building</a>

Chinese officials said all sixteen districts in Shanghai were Covid-free as the mayor said the city would reopen gradually. However, reports claim over 3 million people are still under strict lockdown even as airlines resumed their domestic operations.

The city witnessed the worst outbreak since the Wuhan virus outbreak in early 2020 which had led to the worldwide pandemic.

Watch:&nbsp;Drop in Omicron cases in Shanghai

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/drop-in-omicron-cases-in-shanghai-beijing-struggles-to-contain-covid-outbreak-479204/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

China has stuck to its "zero Covid" policy shutting down entire cities with just a few virus cases, however, the move has been criticised by international agencies since it has led to economic slowdown and supply change issues.

Officials in Beijing had conducted similar mass testing in the capital last month amid a virus surge as people rushed to buy essential supplies fearing a Shanghai-like lockdown.

Chinese health officials said they had identified the &nbsp;Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 which is already pravelent in the United States.

(With inputs from Agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Authorities in Shanghai declared the city had achieved "zero-Covid" across all its districts amid the lockdown. The latest development comes as residents continue to remain in lockdown which was put in place last month as health officials conducted several rounds of mass testing.

Authorities in Shanghai declared the city had achieved "zero-Covid" across all its districts amid the lockdown. The latest development comes as residents continue to remain in lockdown which was put in place last month as health officials conducted several rounds of mass testing. The country has been hit by the Omicron variant in the past three months after struggling to contain the Delta outbreak last year. Also Read: Shanghai couple braves COVID-19 lockdown to get married in car park of their building Chinese officials said all sixteen districts in Shanghai were Covid-free as the mayor said the city would reopen gradually. However, reports claim over 3 million people are still under strict lockdown even as airlines resumed their domestic operations. The city witnessed the worst outbreak since the Wuhan virus outbreak in early 2020 which had led to the worldwide pandemic. Watch: Drop in Omicron cases in Shanghai China has stuck to its "zero Covid" policy shutting down entire cities with just a few virus cases, however, the move has been criticised by international agencies since it has led to economic slowdown and supply change issues. Officials in Beijing had conducted similar mass testing in the capital last month amid a virus surge as people rushed to buy essential supplies fearing a Shanghai-like lockdown. Chinese health officials said they had identified the Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 which is already pravelent in the United States. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE × You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Amid lockdown, Shanghai achieves 'zero-Covid' in all districts

More than Covid-19, the woes around China’s zero-Covid policy continues to make news in the country. Chinese leadership is trying everything it can to keep a positive narrative of its draconian policy, amid WHO Chief calling it ‘unsustainable’ and reports of President Xi Jinping suffering from a cerebral aneurysm. This week, in Chinese Vignettes, we’ll cover China’s intensifying lockdown and other top stories making news in the country.&nbsp;

CHINA OVER THE WEEK&nbsp;

Intensifying lockdown in China&nbsp;

For weeks now, residents in more than 40 cities and provinces continue to be under lockdown. And this lockdown is only intensifying. While the Chinese leadership continues to deny claims of a lockdown in Beijing, the residents rush to buy food over lockdown fears.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It is unnecessary to hoard food… residents don’t need to worry, the city’s operations won’t be affected,” said Xu Hejian, a spokesperson for the Beijing municipal government at a press briefing on Thursday.&nbsp;

Even pictures off empty streets portray the contrary narrative.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-has-xi-jinping-lost-the-plot-478218/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to a Bloomberg report, virtual fences have cut off cab access to Covid-hit districts. This is after reports of city’s parks, gyms and movie theaters being shut to halt the spread of the virus. Beijing’s eastern Chaoyang district, home to embassies and multinationals, instructed companies “providing services other than supporting residents’ livelihoods” to be shut until further notice, and new rounds of mass testing were ordered in the capital city.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The South China Morning Post reported that some residents have endured more than 20 days of lockdown Beijing’s most populous district of Chaoyang.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meanwhile, China’s financial hub Shanghai, earlier this week, reportedly once again tightened its Covid-19 restrictions. The Wall Street Journal reported a new lockdown rule, “if one person tests positive, the whole building isolates.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Shanghai officials also announced that it aims to bring the outbreak under control by May 20 achieving its “societal zero-Covid.” From May 16, the deputy mayor of Shanghai announced that the city would begin to re-open convenience stores and pharmacies, gradually reducing other restrictions in days to come and the return to ‘more normal’ life from June 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghai-to-resume-normal-life-as-tough-covid-19-lockdown-set-to-end-on-june-1-479359">Also read |&nbsp;Shanghai to resume normal life as tough COVID-19 lockdown set to end on June 1</a>

China slams WHO Chief Dr. Tedros&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Tuesday, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) called China’s zero-Covid policy ‘not sustainable.’&nbsp;

“We don’t think that it is sustainable considering the behavior of the virus and what&nbsp;we now anticipate in the future,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We have discussed this issue with Chinese experts. And we indicated that the approach will not be sustainable … I think a shift would be very important,”&nbsp;he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Censors quickly scrubbed these comments off the Chinese internet, removing Weibo post on the United Nations account, reported the South China Morning Post.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Following which any search for the post was deemed to be illegal.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Chinese government didn’t take Dr. Tedros’ criticism well, and hit out at WHO chief, calling his remarks “irresponsible.”&nbsp;

“We hope the relevant individual will make objective and reasonable views of China’s epidemic protocol and policy and try to get a better understanding of the facts and refrain from making irresponsible remarks,” foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular briefing in Beijing.&nbsp;

Hu Xijing, former editor-in-chief of Global Times, a Chinese government mouthpiece, wrote on his Weibo account that the WHO chief was jeopardising China’s fight against Covid.&nbsp;

&nbsp;“The WHO should consider what impact it has on China when they comment on China now. They should not jeopardise China’s effort to fight the pandemic from outside.” he wrote.&nbsp;

The same day, a study by&nbsp;Fudan University in Shanghai and Indiana University in the United States, and the US medical research agency National Institutes of Health&nbsp;said China could see more than 1.5 million deaths without Covid-19 controls.&nbsp;&nbsp;

‘Such an outbreak is projected to cause 112 million symptomatic cases, or 80 cases per 1,000 people, with 2.7 million of them requiring treatment in intensive care,’ reported the South China Morning Post.&nbsp;

Hong Kong cardinal Joseph Zen arrested under security law&nbsp;

This week, the news of&nbsp;90-year-old cardinal&nbsp;Joseph Zen’s arrest sent shockwaves the community. Hong Kong’s veteran Catholic church leader along with 3 others was detained by the police on Wednesday for allegedly colluding with foreign forces.&nbsp;

Zen, Former opposition lawmaker Margaret Ng, singer Denise Ho and&nbsp;academic Hui Po-keung were trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which was set up in 2019 to provide assistance to those involved in anti-government protests.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Joseph Zen, a retired bishop has been a long-time advocate for Hong Kong’s democracy movement and religious freedom in mainland China.&nbsp;

CHINA IN WORLD REPORTAGE&nbsp;

Is President Xi suffering from a cerebral aneurysm?&nbsp;

Reports of Chinese President Xi Jinping suffering from a cerebral aneurysm resurfaced this week. The media reports said that due to this medical problem, he had to be hospitalized at the end of 2021, and Xi preferred to be treated with traditional Chinese medicines rather than undergoing a surgery.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The reports when on to outline various incidents to back their claim. According to the reports, he had a noticeable limp in his gait during his visit to Italy in March 2019. In Shenzhen in October 2020, his delayed appearance, slow speech and coughing spree during an address to the public. And especially the fact that he avoided meeting foreign leaders since the outbreak of Covid-19 till the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in February.&nbsp;

CHINESE SURVEILLANCE SHIP SPOTTED OFF THE COAST OF AUSTRALIA&nbsp;

This week, according to the Australian government, a Chinese surveillance ship was spotted off the coast of Australia. The Department of Defence alleged that the&nbsp;Dongdiao Class Auxiliary Intelligence ship named Haiwangxing&nbsp;was currently headed east along the country’s north-west coast.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Australia’s Defence Minister Peter Dutton said on Friday that the ship had been tracking the western coastline for the past week.&nbsp;

“Its intent, of course, is to collect intelligence right along the coastline. It has been in close proximity to military and intelligence installations on the west coast of Australia,” Dutton was quoted as saying by the ABC.&nbsp;

“I think people understand the difficulty, the reality, of the Indo-Pacific at the moment, the acts of aggression from the Chinese leadership and from the Chinese government,”&nbsp;he added.&nbsp;

He further went on to point out that other Chinese vessels had been located off Australian waters in the past year during military exercises.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dutton’s statement comes a week before the country is set to hold its federal elections.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Countering these allegations, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that his country&nbsp;“always abides by international law and international practice.”&nbsp;

When asked about Dutton’s comments he said, “The relevant Australian politician should look at the situation in an objective manner instead of making sensational remarks.”&nbsp;

More than Covid-19, the woes around China’s zero-Covid policy continues to make news in the country. Chinese leadership is trying everything it can to keep a positive narrative of its draconian policy, amid WHO Chief calling it ‘unsustainable’ and reports of President Xi Jinping suffering from a cerebral aneurysm.

More than Covid-19, the woes around China’s zero-Covid policy continues to make news in the country. Chinese leadership is trying everything it can to keep a positive narrative of its draconian policy, amid WHO Chief calling it ‘unsustainable’ and reports of President Xi Jinping suffering from a cerebral aneurysm. This week, in Chinese Vignettes, we’ll cover China’s intensifying lockdown and other top stories making news in the country. CHINA OVER THE WEEK Intensifying lockdown in China For weeks now, residents in more than 40 cities and provinces continue to be under lockdown. And this lockdown is only intensifying. While the Chinese leadership continues to deny claims of a lockdown in Beijing, the residents rush to buy food over lockdown fears. “It is unnecessary to hoard food… residents don’t need to worry, the city’s operations won’t be affected,” said Xu Hejian, a spokesperson for the Beijing municipal government at a press briefing on Thursday. Even pictures off empty streets portray the contrary narrative. According to a Bloomberg report, virtual fences have cut off cab access to Covid-hit districts. This is after reports of city’s parks, gyms and movie theaters being shut to halt the spread of the virus. Beijing’s eastern Chaoyang district, home to embassies and multinationals, instructed companies “providing services other than supporting residents’ livelihoods” to be shut until further notice, and new rounds of mass testing were ordered in the capital city. The South China Morning Post reported that some residents have endured more than 20 days of lockdown Beijing’s most populous district of Chaoyang. Meanwhile, China’s financial hub Shanghai, earlier this week, reportedly once again tightened its Covid-19 restrictions. The Wall Street Journal reported a new lockdown rule, “if one person tests positive, the whole building isolates.” Shanghai officials also announced that it aims to bring the outbreak under control by May 20 achieving its “societal zero-Covid.” From May 16, the deputy mayor of Shanghai announced that the city would begin to re-open convenience stores and pharmacies, gradually reducing other restrictions in days to come and the return to ‘more normal’ life from June 1. Also read | Shanghai to resume normal life as tough COVID-19 lockdown set to end on June 1 China slams WHO Chief Dr. Tedros On Tuesday, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) called China’s zero-Covid policy ‘not sustainable.’ “We don’t think that it is sustainable considering the behavior of the virus and what we now anticipate in the future,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus “We have discussed this issue with Chinese experts. And we indicated that the approach will not be sustainable … I think a shift would be very important,” he added. Censors quickly scrubbed these comments off the Chinese internet, removing Weibo post on the United Nations account, reported the South China Morning Post. Following which any search for the post was deemed to be illegal. The Chinese government didn’t take Dr. Tedros’ criticism well, and hit out at WHO chief, calling his remarks “irresponsible.” “We hope the relevant individual will make objective and reasonable views of China’s epidemic protocol and policy and try to get a better understanding of the facts and refrain from making irresponsible remarks,” foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular briefing in Beijing. Hu Xijing, former editor-in-chief of Global Times, a Chinese government mouthpiece, wrote on his Weibo account that the WHO chief was jeopardising China’s fight against Covid. “The WHO should consider what impact it has on China when they comment on China now. They should not jeopardise China’s effort to fight the pandemic from outside.” he wrote. The same day, a study by Fudan University in Shanghai and Indiana University in the United States, and the US medical research agency National Institutes of Health said China could see more than 1.5 million deaths without Covid-19 controls. ‘Such an outbreak is projected to cause 112 million symptomatic cases, or 80 cases per 1,000 people, with 2.7 million of them requiring treatment in intensive care,’ reported the South China Morning Post. Hong Kong cardinal Joseph Zen arrested under security law This week, the news of 90-year-old cardinal Joseph Zen’s arrest sent shockwaves the community. Hong Kong’s veteran Catholic church leader along with 3 others was detained by the police on Wednesday for allegedly colluding with foreign forces. Zen, Former opposition lawmaker Margaret Ng, singer Denise Ho and academic Hui Po-keung were trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which was set up in 2019 to provide assistance to those involved in anti-government protests. Joseph Zen, a retired bishop has been a long-time advocate for Hong Kong’s democracy movement and religious freedom in mainland China. CHINA IN WORLD REPORTAGE Is President Xi suffering from a cerebral aneurysm? Reports of Chinese President Xi Jinping suffering from a cerebral aneurysm resurfaced this week. The media reports said that due to this medical problem, he had to be hospitalized at the end of 2021, and Xi preferred to be treated with traditional Chinese medicines rather than undergoing a surgery. The reports when on to outline various incidents to back their claim. According to the reports, he had a noticeable limp in his gait during his visit to Italy in March 2019. In Shenzhen in October 2020, his delayed appearance, slow speech and coughing spree during an address to the public. And especially the fact that he avoided meeting foreign leaders since the outbreak of Covid-19 till the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in February. CHINESE SURVEILLANCE SHIP SPOTTED OFF THE COAST OF AUSTRALIA This week, according to the Australian government, a Chinese surveillance ship was spotted off the coast of Australia. The Department of Defence alleged that the Dongdiao Class Auxiliary Intelligence ship named Haiwangxing was currently headed east along the country’s north-west coast. Australia’s Defence Minister Peter Dutton said on Friday that the ship had been tracking the western coastline for the past week. “Its intent, of course, is to collect intelligence right along the coastline. It has been in close proximity to military and intelligence installations on the west coast of Australia,” Dutton was quoted as saying by the ABC. “I think people understand the difficulty, the reality, of the Indo-Pacific at the moment, the acts of aggression from the Chinese leadership and from the Chinese government,” he added. He further went on to point out that other Chinese vessels had been located off Australian waters in the past year during military exercises. Dutton’s statement comes a week before the country is set to hold its federal elections. Countering these allegations, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that his country “always abides by international law and international practice.” When asked about Dutton’s comments he said, “The relevant Australian politician should look at the situation in an objective manner instead of making sensational remarks.”

Chinese vignettes | Beijing censors Xi’s friend Tedros after he calls China’s Zero-Covid not ‘sustainable’

Images of pets beaten to death, and stories of the elderly being denied basic medical care are clouding the Chinese internet, even as netizens debate Beijing’s “dynamic zero-Covid” policy.

There is also an electoral buzz in Hong Kong as the current Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, has decided that she won’t seek a second term. Meanwhile, Taiwan is gearing up to welcome US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.&nbsp;Chinese Vignettes&nbsp;brings you all the stories making news in China. &nbsp;

China over the week

Rising COVID-19 Cases

China’s continuous and steady commitment to its zero-Covid policy is reaping no benefits, rather it is hurting its economy. On Sunday, Shanghai reported 24,944 COVID-19 cases, bringing the total in the current wave to more than 179,000.

More than 26 million people have been under lockdown in China’s financial hub Shanghai, as what began as an eight-day lockdown to be observed in two phases, has been extended indefinitely. The citizens are overwhelmed. Under the latest lockdown, Shanghai residents are not permitted to leave their homes for any reason other than to be tested for COVID-19, and are dependent on the officials for food and basic necessities. &nbsp;

While the Chinese authorities are trying their best to limit the blow of the Shanghai lockdown by giving tax rebate and other incentives and exemptions, the residents are feeling the strain. Moreover, the shutdown has also jolted the global financial markets who have already been on edge due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. &nbsp;

This stringent zero-Covid policy is also experiencing pushback from residents who are running out of food. The city officials who are responsible for providing the residents with the basic necessities have also admitted that they are facing “difficulties.”

Public anger is also triggered by other drastic measures such as the separation of children from their parents if they test positive for the virus. The authorities later responded by permitting the parents to accompany their wards. However, according to a&nbsp;Reuters&nbsp;report, there are complaints of children separated from their guardians who tested negative. &nbsp;

Additionally, mandatory quarantining in a government facility even for patients whose condition is mild or asymptomatic have caused angst, especially as the quarantine facilities are crowded and have sub-par conditions. &nbsp;

Chinese President Xi’s zero-Covid policy has also broken down those who once supported it, with some saying that Beijing’s cure is worse than the disease itself.

“In this country, it’s not the virus that scares us, but the chaotic anti-Covid measures that have caused risks to the well-being of the elderly, the children and companion animals. I now realize we can only rely on ourselves -- not the government -- to protect our own families,” said&nbsp;Bloomberg&nbsp;quoting a resident.

While another said that she no longer knows the city, the only thing which comes to her mind is to protect her dogs. This comes as Chinese social media is full of images and videos of authorities beating dogs to death. &nbsp;

Another video of an older man went viral on social media, who was heard saying “Really shame on you. Treat us like animals. In other countries, you can’t even treat a cat or a dog like this. There is no humanity left.” The video was later deleted.

On Monday, the centre sent thousands of medics from across the country including the military to carry out the testing and help the embattled local health workers in Shanghai.

The centre fears that the pushback by residents in China could inspire other cities currently under lockdown to fight these measures.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“There is the risk of a slow-burn discontent if lockdown measures spread across China. And if its virus strategy goes out of control and heavily affects its economy, this will not look good as Xi attempts a third term. At that point, Xi will have no choice but to ramp up his nationalism agenda,” reported&nbsp;Bloomberg&nbsp;quoting Chen Shih-Min, an associate political science professor at National Taiwan University.

Electoral buzz in Hong Kong

While the city of nearly 8 million is still batting Covid, it is also gearing up for elections this May. Earlier this week, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam announced that she will not be seeking a second term. Her current term, which ends on June 30, will conclude her 42-year career in government service. &nbsp;

There was also a buzz on social media after the announcement. Some said it was ‘great news”, others said “let’s celebrate!”. While some also pointed out that "Anyone is better than Carrie Lam because she brings bad luck." &nbsp;

The city’s current No. 2 John Lee Ka-chiu resigned from his post of chief secretary following Lam’s announcement, as he emerged as the ‘only’ contender for the post, as Beijing gave their ‘approval’. On Saturday, he announced his bid to run for the top job. &nbsp;

64-year-old John Lee began his career as a police officer, later he turned to politics, and has served as Secretary for Security, Under Secretary for Security, Deputy Commissioner of Police and Chief Secretary for Administration in the Hong Kong government.

‘He has secured enough nominations to run as the only hopeful in next month’s leadership race with Beijing’s blessing,’ said the&nbsp;South China Morning Post. And ‘he promised a ‘new chapter of “pragmatic” and “result-oriented” leadership’ for Hong Kong.’ And Lee hopes to start “a new chapter for Hong Kong together.”

&nbsp;According to reports, for his leadership campaign, Lee will be aided by an “all-encompassing” team. His 16-member campaign team is led by pro-Beijing heavyweight Tam Yiu-chung. The team consists of people from diverse backgrounds such as policy think tanks, finance, social welfare, education and law, as he tries to win public support.

“We hope to strive for community support for Lee and to raise people’s understanding of his policies by reaching out to the community,” said Tam speaking to the&nbsp;South China Morning Post. “But due to the constraints of the social-distancing rules, we’ll have to study how we can achieve that.”

Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan – a red line?

US house speaker Nancy Pelosi was reportedly due to visit Taiwan as part of her tour to Asia, a first by someone in more than two decades. However, China was not happy not it. &nbsp;

&nbsp;"If the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives knowingly commits a sneaky visit to Taiwan, it will be a malicious provocation to China’s sovereignty, gross interference in its internal affairs and an extremely dangerous political signal to the outside world,” said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Even the Chinese embassy in the United States said, “In the past few days, Chinese Ambassador Qin Gang and the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. have lodged stern representations with the U.S. Congress and government on U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s reported visit to Taiwan, and stated China’s solemn position, urging the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations in the three Sino-U.S. Joint Communiques, and to cancel Speaker Pelosi’s plan to visit Taiwan.”

However, after testing positive for Covid-19 she had to postpone it, said her deputy communications director in a tweet on Thursday, leaving many to wonder about when her trip is rescheduled.

On this, while wishing a quick recovery for Pelosi, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that she should "not postpone a visit, but cancel it immediately".

On Friday, Chinese state media trolled Pelosi, state broadcaster&nbsp;CCTV’s social media account started the hashtag “Cure your covid sickness first” that trended China’s Twitter equivalent&nbsp;Weibo.

Taiwan, on the other hand, not only wished her a ‘speedy recovery’ but also thanked the speaker for being a ‘good friend to Taiwan’. Tsai Ing-wen, President of Taiwan, “welcomed the show of U.S. support given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has raised concern that China may follow through on its oft-repeated threat to take control of the democratic island by force,” reported&nbsp;Bloomberg.

&nbsp;

China in world reportage

Arms race with US &nbsp;

This week, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States – or the AUKUS, agreed to cooperate on hypersonic weapons and electronic warfare capabilities. &nbsp;

“We … committed today to commence new trilateral cooperation on hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, and electronic warfare capabilities, as well as to expand information sharing and to deepen cooperation on defence innovation,” said the leaders of the 3 countries – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, in a joint statement on Tuesday.

Adding that they were delighted with the progress of the ‘programme for the conventionally armed submarines for Australia, and the allies would co-operate in other areas too,’ reported&nbsp;Aljazeera.

“These initiatives will add to our existing efforts to deepen cooperation on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and additional undersea capabilities... As our work progresses on these and other critical defence and security capabilities, we will seek opportunities to engage allies and close partners,” they said

Meanwhile, according to reports, ‘the first U.S. hypersonic weapon has been a setback to more than a year under a new timeline which was to be delivered by Sept. 30. The lawmakers protested the delay, as Pentagon is lagging behind in a new technology that ‘Russia has already used in Ukraine and China has demonstrated in a space launch,’ reported&nbsp;Bloomberg.

Last month, while Russia debuted the missile in its attack on Ukraine, China hit a demonstration target on Earth with a weapon in orbit in July. &nbsp;

According to a&nbsp;Wall Street Journal&nbsp;report, Beijing has "accelerated" its nuclear weapons programme due to threats posed by the US. And according to another report, China has also delivered HQ-22 surface-to-air missile systems to Russian ally Serbia. Early Saturday, six Chinese Air Force Y-20 transport planes landed in Belgrade to deliver the ‘sophisticated Chinese anti-aircraft system.’

UN General Assembly votes to suspend Russia from Human Rights Council

On Thursday, China voted against suspending Russia from the Human Rights Council. The resolution came as, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that Russia should be removed from the council, following the reports of mass killings in Bucha, where the Ukrainian officials have accused the Russian troops of committing war crimes.

"Russia's participation on the Human Rights Council is a farce... And it is wrong, which is why we believe it is time the UN General Assembly vote to remove them," she said. &nbsp;

Voting against the resolution, China Ambassador Zhang Jun, at the UN General Assembly said, “China’s basic position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and unequivocal. We always believe that all countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, and that international disputes should be resolved peacefully in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.”

“Any action by the UN and the relevant parties should give priority to regional peace and stability and the universal security of all parties, and should play a positive role for de-escalation and diplomatic solutions. Regrettably, the draft resolution submitted to this emergency special session for vote has not undergone full consultations within the whole membership. Nor does it take full consideration the history and complexity of the current crisis. It does not highlight the importance of the principle of indivisible security, or the urgency of promoting political settlement and stepping up diplomatic efforts. These are not in line with China’s consistent positions. Therefore, we had no choice but to abstain in the voting,” he added. &nbsp;

(The author is an Assistant Researcher at WION TV) &nbsp;

Images of pets beaten to death, and stories of the elderly being denied basic medical care are clouding the Chinese internet, even as netizens debate Beijing’s “dynamic zero-Covid” policy.

Images of pets beaten to death, and stories of the elderly being denied basic medical care are clouding the Chinese internet, even as netizens debate Beijing’s “dynamic zero-Covid” policy. There is also an electoral buzz in Hong Kong as the current Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, has decided that she won’t seek a second term. Meanwhile, Taiwan is gearing up to welcome US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Chinese Vignettes brings you all the stories making news in China. China over the week Rising COVID-19 Cases China’s continuous and steady commitment to its zero-Covid policy is reaping no benefits, rather it is hurting its economy. On Sunday, Shanghai reported 24,944 COVID-19 cases, bringing the total in the current wave to more than 179,000. More than 26 million people have been under lockdown in China’s financial hub Shanghai, as what began as an eight-day lockdown to be observed in two phases, has been extended indefinitely. The citizens are overwhelmed. Under the latest lockdown, Shanghai residents are not permitted to leave their homes for any reason other than to be tested for COVID-19, and are dependent on the officials for food and basic necessities. While the Chinese authorities are trying their best to limit the blow of the Shanghai lockdown by giving tax rebate and other incentives and exemptions, the residents are feeling the strain. Moreover, the shutdown has also jolted the global financial markets who have already been on edge due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This stringent zero-Covid policy is also experiencing pushback from residents who are running out of food. The city officials who are responsible for providing the residents with the basic necessities have also admitted that they are facing “difficulties.” Public anger is also triggered by other drastic measures such as the separation of children from their parents if they test positive for the virus. The authorities later responded by permitting the parents to accompany their wards. However, according to a Reuters report, there are complaints of children separated from their guardians who tested negative. Additionally, mandatory quarantining in a government facility even for patients whose condition is mild or asymptomatic have caused angst, especially as the quarantine facilities are crowded and have sub-par conditions. Chinese President Xi’s zero-Covid policy has also broken down those who once supported it, with some saying that Beijing’s cure is worse than the disease itself. “In this country, it’s not the virus that scares us, but the chaotic anti-Covid measures that have caused risks to the well-being of the elderly, the children and companion animals. I now realize we can only rely on ourselves -- not the government -- to protect our own families,” said Bloomberg quoting a resident. While another said that she no longer knows the city, the only thing which comes to her mind is to protect her dogs. This comes as Chinese social media is full of images and videos of authorities beating dogs to death. Another video of an older man went viral on social media, who was heard saying “Really shame on you. Treat us like animals. In other countries, you can’t even treat a cat or a dog like this. There is no humanity left.” The video was later deleted. On Monday, the centre sent thousands of medics from across the country including the military to carry out the testing and help the embattled local health workers in Shanghai. The centre fears that the pushback by residents in China could inspire other cities currently under lockdown to fight these measures. “There is the risk of a slow-burn discontent if lockdown measures spread across China. And if its virus strategy goes out of control and heavily affects its economy, this will not look good as Xi attempts a third term. At that point, Xi will have no choice but to ramp up his nationalism agenda,” reported Bloomberg quoting Chen Shih-Min, an associate political science professor at National Taiwan University. Electoral buzz in Hong Kong While the city of nearly 8 million is still batting Covid, it is also gearing up for elections this May. Earlier this week, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam announced that she will not be seeking a second term. Her current term, which ends on June 30, will conclude her 42-year career in government service. There was also a buzz on social media after the announcement. Some said it was ‘great news”, others said “let’s celebrate!”. While some also pointed out that "Anyone is better than Carrie Lam because she brings bad luck." The city’s current No. 2 John Lee Ka-chiu resigned from his post of chief secretary following Lam’s announcement, as he emerged as the ‘only’ contender for the post, as Beijing gave their ‘approval’. On Saturday, he announced his bid to run for the top job. 64-year-old John Lee began his career as a police officer, later he turned to politics, and has served as Secretary for Security, Under Secretary for Security, Deputy Commissioner of Police and Chief Secretary for Administration in the Hong Kong government. ‘He has secured enough nominations to run as the only hopeful in next month’s leadership race with Beijing’s blessing,’ said the South China Morning Post. And ‘he promised a ‘new chapter of “pragmatic” and “result-oriented” leadership’ for Hong Kong.’ And Lee hopes to start “a new chapter for Hong Kong together.” According to reports, for his leadership campaign, Lee will be aided by an “all-encompassing” team. His 16-member campaign team is led by pro-Beijing heavyweight Tam Yiu-chung. The team consists of people from diverse backgrounds such as policy think tanks, finance, social welfare, education and law, as he tries to win public support. “We hope to strive for community support for Lee and to raise people’s understanding of his policies by reaching out to the community,” said Tam speaking to the South China Morning Post. “But due to the constraints of the social-distancing rules, we’ll have to study how we can achieve that.” Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan – a red line? US house speaker Nancy Pelosi was reportedly due to visit Taiwan as part of her tour to Asia, a first by someone in more than two decades. However, China was not happy not it. "If the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives knowingly commits a sneaky visit to Taiwan, it will be a malicious provocation to China’s sovereignty, gross interference in its internal affairs and an extremely dangerous political signal to the outside world,” said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Even the Chinese embassy in the United States said, “In the past few days, Chinese Ambassador Qin Gang and the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. have lodged stern representations with the U.S. Congress and government on U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s reported visit to Taiwan, and stated China’s solemn position, urging the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations in the three Sino-U.S. Joint Communiques, and to cancel Speaker Pelosi’s plan to visit Taiwan.” However, after testing positive for Covid-19 she had to postpone it, said her deputy communications director in a tweet on Thursday, leaving many to wonder about when her trip is rescheduled. On this, while wishing a quick recovery for Pelosi, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that she should "not postpone a visit, but cancel it immediately". On Friday, Chinese state media trolled Pelosi, state broadcaster CCTV’s social media account started the hashtag “Cure your covid sickness first” that trended China’s Twitter equivalent Weibo. Taiwan, on the other hand, not only wished her a ‘speedy recovery’ but also thanked the speaker for being a ‘good friend to Taiwan’. Tsai Ing-wen, President of Taiwan, “welcomed the show of U.S. support given Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has raised concern that China may follow through on its oft-repeated threat to take control of the democratic island by force,” reported Bloomberg. China in world reportage Arms race with US This week, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States – or the AUKUS, agreed to cooperate on hypersonic weapons and electronic warfare capabilities. “We … committed today to commence new trilateral cooperation on hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, and electronic warfare capabilities, as well as to expand information sharing and to deepen cooperation on defence innovation,” said the leaders of the 3 countries – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, in a joint statement on Tuesday. Adding that they were delighted with the progress of the ‘programme for the conventionally armed submarines for Australia, and the allies would co-operate in other areas too,’ reported Aljazeera. “These initiatives will add to our existing efforts to deepen cooperation on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and additional undersea capabilities... As our work progresses on these and other critical defence and security capabilities, we will seek opportunities to engage allies and close partners,” they said Meanwhile, according to reports, ‘the first U.S. hypersonic weapon has been a setback to more than a year under a new timeline which was to be delivered by Sept. 30. The lawmakers protested the delay, as Pentagon is lagging behind in a new technology that ‘Russia has already used in Ukraine and China has demonstrated in a space launch,’ reported Bloomberg. Last month, while Russia debuted the missile in its attack on Ukraine, China hit a demonstration target on Earth with a weapon in orbit in July. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Beijing has "accelerated" its nuclear weapons programme due to threats posed by the US. And according to another report, China has also delivered HQ-22 surface-to-air missile systems to Russian ally Serbia. Early Saturday, six Chinese Air Force Y-20 transport planes landed in Belgrade to deliver the ‘sophisticated Chinese anti-aircraft system.’ UN General Assembly votes to suspend Russia from Human Rights Council On Thursday, China voted against suspending Russia from the Human Rights Council. The resolution came as, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that Russia should be removed from the council, following the reports of mass killings in Bucha, where the Ukrainian officials have accused the Russian troops of committing war crimes. "Russia's participation on the Human Rights Council is a farce... And it is wrong, which is why we believe it is time the UN General Assembly vote to remove them," she said. Voting against the resolution, China Ambassador Zhang Jun, at the UN General Assembly said, “China’s basic position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and unequivocal. We always believe that all countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, and that international disputes should be resolved peacefully in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.” “Any action by the UN and the relevant parties should give priority to regional peace and stability and the universal security of all parties, and should play a positive role for de-escalation and diplomatic solutions. Regrettably, the draft resolution submitted to this emergency special session for vote has not undergone full consultations within the whole membership. Nor does it take full consideration the history and complexity of the current crisis. It does not highlight the importance of the principle of indivisible security, or the urgency of promoting political settlement and stepping up diplomatic efforts. These are not in line with China’s consistent positions. Therefore, we had no choice but to abstain in the voting,” he added. (The author is an Assistant Researcher at WION TV)

Chinese vignettes | Beijing’s unwavering commitment to its zero-Covid policy is only hurting China

The Chinese mainland reported 402 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, nearly double of the cases recorded a day earlier, official data showed on Thursday.

According to the National Health Commission report, among the new local infections, northwestern Jilin province reported 165 cases, its highly daily count since China contained its first national outbreak in 2020.

A total of 126 imported COVID-19 cases were reported Wednesday, said the commission.

Ten new suspected cases, all arriving from outside the mainland, were reported in Shanghai, said the commission. No deaths from COVID-19 were reported on the day.

Even though the number of active cases reported is low compared to global standards, China has been sticking with its “dynamic zero-Covid strategy”, which involves using mass testing and tracing, border controls and snap lockdowns to contain the virus.

In Jilin, which is battling a fresh outbreak after a sub-strain of Omicron was found, business operations in its urban areas have been closed for a week with exceptions being made for those responsible for providing essential services and businesses requiring continuous production.

People are being allowed out of their homes from Mar&nbsp;7 to Mar 13, except for matters such as seeking medical services or going for urgent work, according to the city government.

As of March 9, China had reported 112,385 cases with confirmed symptoms, including local ones and those arriving from outside the mainland.

A total of 586 asymptomatic cases were reported Wednesday, including 151 arriving from outside the mainland, according to the commission.

A total of 4,636 patients had died of the virus on the mainland since the outbreak of the disease

(With inputs from agencies)

The Chinese mainland reported 402 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, nearly double of the cases recorded a day earlier, official data showed on Thursday.

The Chinese mainland reported 402 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, nearly double of the cases recorded a day earlier, official data showed on Thursday. According to the National Health Commission report, among the new local infections, northwestern Jilin province reported 165 cases, its highly daily count since China contained its first national outbreak in 2020. A total of 126 imported COVID-19 cases were reported Wednesday, said the commission. Ten new suspected cases, all arriving from outside the mainland, were reported in Shanghai, said the commission. No deaths from COVID-19 were reported on the day. Even though the number of active cases reported is low compared to global standards, China has been sticking with its “dynamic zero-Covid strategy”, which involves using mass testing and tracing, border controls and snap lockdowns to contain the virus. In Jilin, which is battling a fresh outbreak after a sub-strain of Omicron was found, business operations in its urban areas have been closed for a week with exceptions being made for those responsible for providing essential services and businesses requiring continuous production. People are being allowed out of their homes from Mar 7 to Mar 13, except for matters such as seeking medical services or going for urgent work, according to the city government. As of March 9, China had reported 112,385 cases with confirmed symptoms, including local ones and those arriving from outside the mainland. A total of 586 asymptomatic cases were reported Wednesday, including 151 arriving from outside the mainland, according to the commission. A total of 4,636 patients had died of the virus on the mainland since the outbreak of the disease (With inputs from agencies)

China reports 402 local Covid cases, nearly double than a day earlier

Reports indicate that the State Department is preparing to approve the departure of American diplomats and their families from China. Apparently, this is due to the inability of the US government to prevent Chinese authorities from enacting intrusive pandemic control measures, subjecting the Americans to them.

In a report by Reuters, two sources confirmed the US Embassy sent the formal request to Washington on Monday as China stepped up COVID-19 containment protocols ahead of the start of the Beijing Winter Olympics that begin in less than two weeks from now.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-chinas-zero-covid-strategy-what-it-is-how-it-functions-and-does-it-work-442865">Explainer: China's 'zero covid' strategy; what it is, how it functions and does it work?</a>

The report also mentions that some embassy staff is unhappy that the US government has not protected American officials from strict quarantine measures. Among the rules is the possibility of forcing admission to COVID fever clinics and separation from children.

There is no word from the State Department on whether it approved the embassy's request.

One staff member said approximately 25% of staff and family members of the US Embassy in Beijing plan on leaving China as soon as possible. This is reportedly according to an internal survey conducted by the embassy.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-vs-biden-gun-violence-in-joe-bidens-us-sees-a-sharp-escalation-447054" hreflang="en">Trump vs Biden: Gun violence in Joe Biden's US sees a sharp escalation</a>

Diplomats could be subject to home quarantine as a baseline requirement and be able to seek treatment at Chinese fever clinics and hospitals on a voluntary basis, this person added, adding that USA should have taken retaliatory measures for such requirements.

According to a second source, US embassy leadership failed to get adequate assurances from China in relation to the treatment of diplomats throughout the pandemic.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: China wants to "purify" the internet

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-wants-to-purify-the-internet-447582/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The US government evacuated some 1,300 diplomats and family members from China in the early months of the pandemic. The two governments remained at odds for months over testing and quarantine procedures.

In general, China has required that foreign diplomats adhere to pandemic control rules like regular citizens do. This includes weeks of quarantine in government facilities where individuals don't have freedom of movement.

As the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics approaches on Feb 4, China has stepped up its efforts to stop the spread of COVID, despite flare-ups of the virus still occurring throughout the city.

Two million residents in one Beijing district were set to take part in a new round of tests on Tuesday.

Global Times, China's nationalist tabloid, called the State Department's consideration of the policy a "dirty trick" to sabotage China's hosting of the Olympics.

The United States has led several allied and partner countries in promoting a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics due to what it says is China's ongoing genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslim communities in Xinjiang, its western region.

(With inputs from agencies)

Reports indicate that the State Department is preparing to approve the departure of American diplomats and their families from China. Apparently, this is due to the inability of the US government to prevent Chinese authorities from enacting intrusive pandemic control measures, subjecting the Americans to them.

Reports indicate that the State Department is preparing to approve the departure of American diplomats and their families from China. Apparently, this is due to the inability of the US government to prevent Chinese authorities from enacting intrusive pandemic control measures, subjecting the Americans to them. In a report by Reuters, two sources confirmed the US Embassy sent the formal request to Washington on Monday as China stepped up COVID-19 containment protocols ahead of the start of the Beijing Winter Olympics that begin in less than two weeks from now. Also read | Explainer: China's 'zero covid' strategy; what it is, how it functions and does it work? The report also mentions that some embassy staff is unhappy that the US government has not protected American officials from strict quarantine measures. Among the rules is the possibility of forcing admission to COVID fever clinics and separation from children. There is no word from the State Department on whether it approved the embassy's request. One staff member said approximately 25% of staff and family members of the US Embassy in Beijing plan on leaving China as soon as possible. This is reportedly according to an internal survey conducted by the embassy. Also read | Trump vs Biden: Gun violence in Joe Biden's US sees a sharp escalation Diplomats could be subject to home quarantine as a baseline requirement and be able to seek treatment at Chinese fever clinics and hospitals on a voluntary basis, this person added, adding that USA should have taken retaliatory measures for such requirements. According to a second source, US embassy leadership failed to get adequate assurances from China in relation to the treatment of diplomats throughout the pandemic. Watch | Gravitas: China wants to "purify" the internet The US government evacuated some 1,300 diplomats and family members from China in the early months of the pandemic. The two governments remained at odds for months over testing and quarantine procedures. In general, China has required that foreign diplomats adhere to pandemic control rules like regular citizens do. This includes weeks of quarantine in government facilities where individuals don't have freedom of movement. As the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics approaches on Feb 4, China has stepped up its efforts to stop the spread of COVID, despite flare-ups of the virus still occurring throughout the city. Two million residents in one Beijing district were set to take part in a new round of tests on Tuesday. Global Times, China's nationalist tabloid, called the State Department's consideration of the policy a "dirty trick" to sabotage China's hosting of the Olympics. The United States has led several allied and partner countries in promoting a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics due to what it says is China's ongoing genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslim communities in Xinjiang, its western region. (With inputs from agencies)

Ahead of Winter Olympics, over 25% of US diplomats may leave China. Find out why

china-zero-covid

China Zero Covid, News on China Zero Covid, stories on China Zero Covid, articles on China Zero Covid, China Zero Covid stories at Wion, China Zero Covid news, China Zero Covid latest news