Protests have erupted recently across China as a reaction against the Government’s strict COVID policies. It was obvious that more and more people began to criticize the authorities’ measures in various ways, including on social media. Hundreds of accounts of those who manifest their disagreement against the Chinese Government’s COVID policies have been either suspended or closed, according to Aljazeera.
The Associated Press even informs that the critics included attacks on medical workers and experts. Almost 13,000 violations were addressed by Sina Weibo, a microblogging website in China, similar to Twitter. It is one of the most popular social media platforms in China, with over 500 million monthly active users as of 2021. Users can post text, images, and videos on their Weibo feed, and they can also interact with each other by commenting, liking, and re-posting. Sina Weibo has become an important platform for public discourse and communication in China, and it has also been used as a tool for marketing and advertising.
Why the lockdowns?
The recent lockdowns and restrictions that have been imposed in China are justified by the surge of new infections, according to experts. People have criticized the strict enforcement of rules, including extended travel restrictions that led to individuals being stuck in their homes for extended periods, sometimes without sufficient provisions or medical attention. There has also been outrage over the practice of requiring individuals who may have been exposed to or tested positive for the virus to be placed in overcrowded field hospitals with inadequate food and sanitation.
China was the first country hit by the COVID-19 pandemic back in 2020. The virus was first identified in Wuhan, a city in central China, in December 2019 and quickly spread throughout the country. The Chinese Government implemented strict measures to try to contain the virus, including lockdowns, travel restrictions, and the closure of businesses and schools. These measures disrupted daily life and had a significant economic impact.
The pandemic also had serious consequences for China’s healthcare system, which was overwhelmed by the number of cases. There were shortages of medical supplies, hospital beds, and trained medical staff, and many people with the virus were unable to get the care they needed.
