China's Ending of “Zero Covid” Policy: Demographic Consequences
- Authors: Gerasimova T.G1
-
Affiliations:
- Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences
- Issue: No 2 (2025)
- Pages: 98-115
- Section: State and society
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/0131-2812/article/view/293527
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.31857/S0131281225020079
- ID: 293527
Open Access
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Abstract
The Chinese government's decision to end the "zero covid" policy in late 2022 resulted in an explosive surge in COVID-19 cases. The article assesses the impact of this decision on the life and health of the Chinese population and considers the scale and causes of human losses. Based on scientific research, as well as information from official sources, the assumptions about the insufficient level of vaccination of the Chinese population and the ineffectiveness of Chinese vaccines are refuted. A review of the main studies of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines confirms their effectiveness in preventing death, comparable to the world's leading vaccines. Data are provided on the widespread use of Chinese vaccines to vaccinate the population of other countries. The author relies on studies of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the main strains of COVID during the period when the Chinese government was actively winding down the course of strict restrictive measures and large-scale testing. The set of reasons that led to an increase in mortality among the population as a result of the abrupt cancellation of the "zero covid" policy In China is shown, and attention is also focused on China's insufficient preparedness for the abrupt cancellation of this policy. Within the framework of the scientific research and statistical estimates of the number of deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic in the country considered in the article, including the calculations undertaken by the author, a conclusion is made about the effectiveness of the Chinese government's policy during the pandemic as a whole compared to other countries. It is noted that China's persistent, active fight against the spread of the new virus has not received either due assessment and support from the world community, or the introduction of similar maximum restrictive measures in other countries against the spread of COVID-19, which has led to large human casualties among the peoples of the Earth.
About the authors
T. G Gerasimova
Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Email: gerta48@mail.ru
Senior Researcher, Centre for Contemporary History of China and its Relations with Russia Moscow, Russian Federation
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