China is clinging to clandestine when the rest of the world has moved past it. The nation with the largest population has the least amount of the virus and the most testing. Living with the virus is strongly opposed by the Chinese government. It's more important to manage individuals than to treat illnesses; the goal isn't to keep people healthy.

Such testing facilities are widely dispersed throughout China's streets. Apps that are just another data hogs monitor movement. 

Workers are at war with COVID in armies significantly greater than those of any other nation.

 There is no publicly available plan for it; 

lockdown cycles restrict travel and testing keeps infection levels low.

 The fact that China's economy is slowing down may make some citizens feel as though their country has kept their doors closed for too long.

They have determined that they will protect public health even at the expense of the economy. 

The Chinese leadership is obviously prepared to suffer from the economic downturn, but when will they finally decide that it is too much of a sacrifice for the economy?

Testing facilities in China such as the above have sprung up everywhere

20th CCP Congress reiterated the Zero Covid Strategy

This year's Congress differs from previous ones because of the pressure of expectation. 

The fight to keep the virus under control has eclipsed Xi Jinping's other goals because China is the last big nation remaining fighting to eradicate it.

 His Belt and Road initiative to develop global infrastructure is suffering as a result of a significant economic slowdown that it has exacerbated. 

Implementing Mr Xi's covid programme has turned into a test of political allegiance. Videos of children playing in masks are eagerly published by local officials.

Xi Jinping is staking his political future on the success of zero covid policy

Even though it appears absurd and even ridiculous from the outside, health personnel on horseback are depicted eradicating the virus on the Tibetan hills

 as part of a political performance to appear to be upholding the rigorous zero covid restrictions. Exactly the same thing occurred in the 1960s around Mao. 

When Mao had an idea during the years of the great leap forward, no one else could oppose him or confront him.

 And so, for a few years, the entire country implemented that foolish or insane idea, and we have since witnessed the devastating results.

The hope for a modification in the zero covid policy appears to have been dashed during the past few days.

 The People's Daily newspaper, Xi Jinping's most significant government mouthpiece, has published three articles arguing that the covid zero campaign must continue. 

We would probably witness widespread illnesses and a certain proportion of fatalities if China loosened its approach.

 And given that he has already placed his entire political authority of the last two or three years on this zero covid policy, that will likely be considered catastrophic to his political leadership.

Xi Jinping is anticipated to continue in power despite widespread dissatisfaction and economic difficulties, although international relations are still precarious. 

Strict lockdowns have shut down entire cities such as Shanghai

Shanghai citizens are finally enjoying the end of a continuous two-month lockdown by taking to the streets. People may be subject to strict lockdowns at any time, because of China's so-called dynamic zero COVID approach. 

Residents in circumstances where they reside in Shanghai were essentially imprisoned at home for weeks.

 Offices, schools, and shops were all closed. 

25 million people's lives were postponed.

These severe restrictions have had significant social and economic effects, and the suffering may seem incredibly pointless now that most of the rest of the globe has essentially returned to normal. 

Why does China maintain its zero COVID policy?

The answer is that it doesn't have many options. Here is why China has to stick with that policy; 

And by December 2020, life for the city's 11 million residents had returned to normal, even if the majority of nations were still dealing with severe outbreaks.

 That is due to the rigorous lockdown that was put in place immediately following the COVID outbreak in China. 

With travel restrictions, their first goal is to prevent the virus from entering the community as much as possible. 

If the virus does enter, which we know will happen sooner or later when there is an outbreak in a specific community, there are very strict control measures, including case finding, isolating cases, contact tracing, and quarantine.

 And lockdowns, in most cases, help to enable that as well.

Life in Wuhan went back to normal initially as the other countries battled the virus

It's a very effective method in comparison to other tactics because living may be rather regular inside cities as long as the majority of the time can be spent at zero daily cases. 

China's initial strategy was so successful that it was recognised as a successful example to learn from internationally.

 Naturally, it was successful at first since, starting around late March 2020, infection and mortality rates were back to zero.

In a way, the successful containment, especially for elderly individuals, made the vaccination appear less necessary. You don't seem to need immunizations if it isn't spreading across society.

In China, vaccines are locally made. Foreign-made mRNA vaccines are not available.

And that appears to be solely motivated by political choices and goals, such as the desire to create and employ their own vaccines rather than appear to be dependent on foreign assistance or international science and technology.

Politicians want to prevent high infection and death rates, but they're unsure of how to achieve it. 

They are looking for the route with the lowest political cost.

Additionally, it appears that giving up the zero covid plan would cost too much politically right now. It has evolved into President Xi's defining strategy. At China's 20th Party Congress, he is anticipated to declare his ambition to serve a historic third term.

However, the expense of maintaining the policy is rising. Not only is it having an impact on people's daily lives, but also on the Chinese economy.

Abandoning the policy now might prove to be quite costly for the communist party

Can China end its zero COVID strategy while preserving the party's reputation?

They ought to be able to communicate this in a way that keeps their face. 

It all comes down to the messaging to convey that, yes, there will be dangers, but if they don't open up, there will be other risks and expenses that they must incur.

The problem is that they will find it tougher to carry out that messaging successfully the longer things continue as they are right now. Because the longer things continue the way they do today, the less trust there is in government and the more miserable people are.

And all of this puts Xi Jinping and the Communist Party in a precarious position.

President Xi is afraid to discontinue the Zero Covid Policy. Here's why;

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