China’s Covid policy exacts huge economic price

LAST month, when the Covid-19 death toll in the United States reached a million, China’s government and state media took delight in mocking and shaming America in its moment of national grief.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, after offering “deep grief for the tragic loss of one million lives”, extolled China for the way it had handled the Covid-19 virus, saying that China’s policy -- dubbed “dynamic zero-Covid” -- “gives priority to people’s life, safety and health”.

Under this policy, China locks down large areas, including entire cities, to stop the virus from spreading. Beijing claims that from the beginning of 2020 to June 2022, the loss of life had been capped at little over 5,200.