Has zero-COVID checkmated China's Xi?

from Headlines From The Times · host Gustavo Arellano, Denise Guerra, Shannon Lin, Kasia Broussalian, Ashlea Brown, David Toledo, Mario Diaz, Mark Nieto, Mike Heflin, Kinsee Morlan, Jazmín Aguilera, Shani O. Hilton, Roberto Reyes, Heba Elorbany, Nicolas Perez

Mainland China is roiled by protests, the size of which have not been seen in a generation. People are calling for an end to the government’s strict “zero-COVID” restrictions. The moment has also brought rare public criticism of its architect, President Xi Jinping. Just months ago, he secured an unprecedented third term, but now is as vulnerable as he’s ever been.Today, we examine whether the zero-COVID policy could be Xi’s downfall. Read the full transcript here.Host: Gustavo ArellanoGuests: L.A. Times China correspondent Stephanie YangMore reading:‘Zero COVID’ is roiling China. But ending the policy may cause a massive health disasterProtests over China’s strict COVID-19 controls spread across the countryDreams of a Red Emperor: The relentless rise of Xi Jinping

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Dec 5, 2022

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What this episode covers

China has long had one of the strictest COVID protocols in the world, leading to extremely low rates of the virus. But residents are protesting the policy, putting President Xi Jinping in an uncommon position: on the defensive.