Xi Defends China’s COVID Zero Policy Amid Lockdown Chaos

A worker walks next to barriers that separate the street from buildings in a neighborhood in lockdown in Jing'an district, in Shanghai on March 30, 2022. Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images

Chinese communist leader Xi Jinping defended China’s strict COVID zero policy at a Beijing Winter Olympics Commendation Ceremony recently.

The experience of the Winter Olympics shows that China’s pandemic control policy has once again stood the test and deserved a gold medal, Xi said at the ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 8.

Xi said his speech amid a COVID-19 outbreak in China and mass complaints about indefinite lockdowns in major cities.

Shanghai and other places have been under lockdown for several days due to the severe COVID-19 outbreak.

The extreme measures under the “COVID zero” policy have caused crises in shutdown cities with people struggling for food while both COVID patients and people suffering from other illnesses have been unable to access medical care.

According to official announcements, most of the infected cases in mainland China are due to the Omicron variant with most patients being asymptomatic.

However, the strict measures have resulted in asymptomatic patients and those in close contact being concentrated in isolation points, which has resulted in parents and their young children being separated.

During his speech at the ceremony, Xi defended China’s strict epidemic prevention policies.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping (center left), and Premier Li Keqiang (center right) look on after presenting medals during a ceremony to honor the contributions to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics at the Great Hall of the People on April 8, 2022. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

He said that China protected Winter Olympic participants and Chinese people from COVID-19 through strict implementation of prevention and control measures, including the “dynamically clearing” of the outbreak in cities.

“China’s pandemic prevention policy has once again withstood the test, providing a useful experience for the global fight against the pandemic and for holding major international events,” Xi said.

He also quoted foreign athletes as saying that if there is a gold medal for epidemic prevention, “China should get one.”

Policemen wearing protective gear are seen on a street during the second stage of a pandemic lockdown in Jing'an district in Shanghai on April 5, 2022. Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images

Outside commentators believe Xi cannot quit the COVID zero policy with state media agency Xinhua saying he was “personally issuing commands and personally arranging deployments.”

China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party will hold its 20th National Congress this fall, and Xi is then expected to consolidate his third term as the regime’s leader.

Eileen Gu Awarded

Xi also announced that he would award 147 individuals, including Chinese-American Beijing Winter Olympics winner Eileen Gu who won two gold medals and one silver for China, the title of “Outstanding Contribution Individual for the Beijing Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics.

Gu’s citizenship caused controversy during the Winter Olympics since China doesn’t allow dual citizenship and claimed that Gu had given up her U.S. citizenship to represent China.

However, Gu never confirmed that she gave up her U.S. citizenship, even after being asked multiple times at press conferences.

She returned to the United States after the Winter Olympics with a fortune made from Chinese companies’ sponsorship and commercial activities while in China.

Gold medallist Eileen Gu, a U.S.-born athlete, celebrates with her medal on behalf of the Chinese team during the Women's Freestyle Skiing Freeski Big Air medal ceremony on Day 4 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Beijing Medal Plaza in Beijing, China, on Feb. 8, 2022. Richard Heathcote/Getty Images