The CCP authorities prioritize “stability maintenance” to consolidate power, hence actively blocking any information that can affect the stability of public opinion. However, the CCP’s lack of information transparency has created a considerable breach in epidemic prevention and health care.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCP locked down areas with confirmed cases, screened all inbound passengers, and adopted specific screening methods that could cause damages and burdens in personal health, safety, freedom, finance and time. Countries around the world started experimenting with alternative policies in 2022 to achieve “co-existence with the virus.” These policies focused on boosting vaccination rates as a means to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and welcomed the relaxation of social distancing restrictions. Despite this backdrop, the CCP continued to impose its “zero-COVID” policy to maintain political stability, and the policy’s related measures were not lift until January 2023.
Furthermore, there has been a rapid spread of mycoplasma pneumonia since June 2023. With only limited amount of news reports warning about the transmission of the disease or providing related health information, prevention efforts were hampered, causing a surge in the number of people infected by mycoplasma pneumonia.
Example 1: It is widely believed that the rapid spread of COVID-19 was the result of local officials’ intentionally concealing information for fear of upsetting the central government. The source of information within mainland China is mostly the state-run media outlets, which is another reason why response to the pandemic was delayed.
Example 2: Mainland China remains firm in its implementation of the "dynamic zero-COVID” policy, leading to strict restrictions nationwide. A striking example is that a Taiwanese student on an exchange program to Shanghai underwent a total of 92 PCR and rapid screening tests within four months of time. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai, schools limited students’ personal freedom by prohibiting them from stepping out of the dormitory, banning all delivery services, and only allowing them to "walk for health" in designated areas at designated times.
Example 3: Starting from January 2023, the mainland Chinese health authorities stopped requiring nucleic acid testing or centralized quarantine for inbound travelers. However, inbound passengers were still required to complete a health declaration card before entry until the policy was discontinued in November 1, 2023.