Xi Jinping's dominance in Chinese politics has only strengthened this year even as the ruler grapples with the consequences of China's COVID policies.
BEIJING, China – Xi Jinping secured a historic third leadership term in October, emerging as China’s most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong, bolstered by a Politburo Standing Committee stacked with allies and no successor-in-waiting to challenge him.
China’s economy is on track to grow at around 3% in 2022, far short of its official target of roughly 5.5%, as the country’s outlier COVID curbs stifled consumption and disrupted supply chains, while crisis in its massive property sector continued to weigh. Later that month, protesters in cities across China took to the streets in opposition to nearly three years of stifling COVID-19 controls that were a signature Xi policy. Such widespread protests were the first in China since 1989.
Xi further consolidated his power in a process that began when he first took office a decade ago, a concentration that has taken China in a more authoritarian direction and that critics warn raises the risk for policy missteps. Experts warn that China, home to 1.4 billion people, could see more than 1 million COVID-related deaths in the coming year.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Jubilant Chinese plan trips abroad with COVID quarantine to endPeople in China reacted with joy and rushed to plan trips abroad Tuesday after Beijing said it would scrap mandatory Covid quarantine for overseas arrivals, ending almost three years of self-imposed isolation.
Read more »
Chinese make travel plans as Beijing dismantles zero-COVID rulesChinese people, cut off from the rest of the world for three years by stringent COVID-19 curbs, flocked to travel sites on Tuesday ahead of borders reopening next month, even as rising infections strained the health system and roiled the economy.
Read more »
Chinese hospitals 'extremely busy' as COVID-19 spreads uncheckedChinese hospitals were under intense pressure on Wednesday as a surge of COVID-19 infections strained medical resources, while the scale of the outbreak and doubts over official data prompted some countries to consider new travel rules on Chinese visitors.
Read more »
Chinese hospitals 'extremely busy' as COVID spreads uncheckedChina this month began dismantling the world's strictest COVID regime of lockdowns and extensive testing.
Read more »
Marcos to push through with China state visit despite COVID-19 surgeDespite soaring COVID-19 cases in China, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will still push through with his state visit in Beijing next week, an official from the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.
Read more »
Asia’s tourist hotspots prepare for boom as China relaxes COVID rulesAsian countries are bracing for an influx of Chinese tourists as COVID restrictions are dismantled, and while some are wary, operators in others are preparing packages such as hotpot buffets to cash in on the expected spike in travel. | Reuters
Read more »