China’s zero-Covid policy questioned as expert says ‘stabilising the economy will protect lives’
- By hampering economic activity, China’s coronavirus controls are doing more damage to life expectancy than good, a Chinese professor says
- Another academic says rising unemployment and declining incomes are making it harder for Beijing to back up its talk of putting people first
Beijing should allow more open debate on the consequences of its zero-Covid policy amid fears the country is “losing more than it gains” from harsh lockdowns that are taking an enormous toll on the economy, Chinese experts say.
Though Beijing is rolling out support for the economy, it is refusing to budge from its zero-Covid strategy, saying it is putting people and lives first.
However, comments from a high-profile economics professor at the weekend have called the government’s approach into question – and ignited a firestorm of discussion online.
To stabilise the economy is to protect lives. More effort is needed in this area
China’s containment measures over the past two years have helped extend the average lifespan of citizens for 10 days, or five days per year, according to David Li Daokui, from Tsinghua University in Beijing.
But Li said a 1 per cent fall in per capita consumption would shorten the average lifespan of each person by 10 days per year, adding there needed to be more focus on protecting China’s industrial chain and production lines while Covid controls were in place, because ultimately it affected people’s lives.
“To stabilise the economy is to protect lives. More effort is needed in this area,” he said at a Tsinghua University forum on Saturday.