The secret of the Chinese approach against the second wave of Ovid 19

Unlike what happened earlier this year, when the Chinese government first hid the epidemic in Vwan and later delayed international mobilization, there is no reason to believe that Beijing is hiding cases of illness. On the other hand, the danger of allowing cities of more than twenty million people (such as capital or Shanghai) to live normally despite the threat of an uncontrolled epidemic would be enormous.

The explosions that appear periodically are subject to shock therapy. It happened in Kashgar, far west of the country, where over four million people were tested in three days. The fact remains that there is no second wave or uncontrolled spread of the virus in China.

No debate

What is the secret of the Chinese method? Pointing to Chinese authoritarianism, which imposes extreme social control, would be very simple, but at least at two levels is correct. First, no one in China disputes official decisions, unlike Europe, where controversy and protests are not lacking.

Second, we need to take into account the unlimited use of technology by the government, with applications, QR codes, centralisation of data, all means that were widely used by the regime to control the population. David-19 just reinforced this tendency, again without the possibility of a debate.

But as we said, authoritarianism is not enough explanation. Today, the Chinese state has the ability to apply its decisions. It is the difference between the beginning of the outbreak in Vuhan, with its grey zones and failures, and the party's centralised action starting in late January, which highlighted the government's full power.

The issue is political everywhere, in democracy as well as in authoritarian states. The solution does not result from elections or media debates. At stake is the destruction of the social contract (or the heavenly mandate, as it once was called), and a mistake may cost leaders the chair, even if they are not elected in a democratic manner.

But the geopolitical influence of pandemic should also be considered. Here again we face a paradox: China's international image has been clearly damaged because of the initial management of the epidemic, but also because of a very aggressive diplomacy and government behaviour towards the Ujgurs as well as the people of Hong Kong.

China, however, is presented as a management model for the screwd-19, unlike the disaster taking place in the United States and Europe. It's a message that has obviously been directed to more Chinese people than the rest of the world. However, the Chinese “ ” model is gaining ground and Beijing leaders want to believe their time has come. Our weakness is certainly their strength. / France Inter World.al