Zero Covid policy in China: the federal government must take a stand

China’s inhumane zero-Covid policy puts millions in “measure detention”. Clear words are therefore needed from the federal government to China that things cannot go on like this.

I’m standing here in Hamburg now because I left Beijing with my family – for the reason that people in China are now protesting: they’re fed up with the tough zero-Covid course, under which life often feels like in Corona -Measures detention.

When authorities close schools for months, when everyone in the district has to take a PCR test every two days because they would otherwise not be allowed to go to the supermarket or even to the hospital in an emergency, then all freedom is left behind.

I know that there were also strict corona restrictions in Germany – but for a limited time. In China, zero Covid has lasted for almost three years now.

In China, protest is dangerous

Today, the US embassy in Beijing warned its compatriots: Anyone can end up in lockdown with the rapidly increasing number of infections, families can be separated. I could go to Germany, but people in China can’t. And some of them are brave enough to protest, knowing they could end up in jail.

Because the surveillance state sees everyone everywhere: high-resolution cameras at every intersection; Smartphones in which authorities can read everything. The fact that people are still demonstrating and risking everything must mean more to the German government than just “We’re watching it,” as a spokesman said in Berlin today.

I think observation is not enough. When EU Council President Charles Michel travels to Beijing on Thursday, he must have a message with him – also from the German government: end zero Covid, we can help with vaccines, but we cannot stand it if millions of people continue to be subjected to inhumane measures Suffer.

In the leadership circle of the CP, nobody seems to dare to open Xi Jinping’s eyes to the failure of his zero-Covid policy. All the more reason why I finally expect clear appeals from the outside.