Opinion | China’s lockdowns, other rigid Covid-19 control measures heighten worries of worsening economy for nation’s middle class
- On China’s internet, ‘run’ – as in, flee the country – gained momentum as the word of the year after Shanghai was put under a draconian Covid-19 lockdown
- What lies behind that word is growing anxiety by the affluent urban middle class over China’s future
What lies behind those terms is growing anxiety over China’s future and rising concerns about Beijing’s strategy on “reform and opening up”. This is a particular worry for the country’s middle class, who have largely benefited from economic liberalisation and globalisation. Their uneasiness has led to a spike in online searches for information about immigration, according to anecdotal evidence.
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Beijing has repeatedly assured the nation of its commitment to reform and opening up, which are expected to guarantee a better future for those who have cultivated their knowledge and accumulated a certain amount of wealth. Reform is supposed to represent how individuals have free rein to foster their career and lifestyle, while opening up refers to gaining access to products, services and ideas from around the world.
