Utilizing what I’ve been starting to learn about China and Marxism, I’ve been starting to push back against the reactionary and conservative side of my family on various topics regarding China, including events and propaganda such as the 2008 milk contamination (to which I pointed out that unlike what would probably have happened in the West if likewise occurred, company execs actually went to jail), the ‘plastic rice’ rumor (to which there’s no evidence of it being true in any way, it’s pure propaganda), and other topics.
Through this, I’ve realized I know very little about how China actually handled the main COVID-19 outbreak, and I have been struggling to find reliable sources detailing what happened. Some particularly outlandish claims were made by family members that I really wish to push back (and frankly I’m not sure if I should repeat what they said here), and I would absolutely appreciate context and reading sources to help with that.
E: I know pushing back may or may not be a waste of time, but I’m convinced that as small as the chance may be, I might get the perception of a couple of them to budge at least a bit, and I think that chance is worth going for.
This is a pretty extensive topic that I remember we discussed on Genzedong quite extensively at the time. I hope someone can give you a good collection of (more serious than GZD) sources that you can study, so i will just give my brief opinion:
In short: better than any other country on earth (save perhaps the DPRK), and very close to what the ideal response should be in cases of pandemics, which can be summed up simply with: putting people before profits.
Not only did they initially correctly prioritize completely containing and eliminating the virus (and were largely successful in doing so until it became clear that unfortunately, most of the rest of the world was unwilling and unable to do the same and preferred letting it become endemic), they also mobilized significant state resources to socially and economically support the people throughout difficult periods.
Contrast with the western (lack of) strategy of porous and ineffective semi-lockdowns extended over long periods of time, with constantly shifting and confused policies, which combined the worst of both worlds: failing to contain the spread while at the same time causing economic damage and social discontent.
China instead opted for brief and localized but disciplined and stringent lockdowns, combined with rigorous tracking of infections so that throughout most of the pandemic most of China remained unaffected and normal economic activity could continue.
They also invested in explaining to the people through proper education and public messaging why these measures were necessary, thus generally preventing widespread discontent.
However even they were not perfect, as they eventually allowed Shanghai (which is very capital-brained) to sabotage the entire national strategy.
Also, they did not impose the same rules on Hong Kong, which as a result did far worse than the rest of the country, and you can visibly see that it has struggled to recover and has since been falling further and further behind the mainland economically (though that is a bigger issue not just tied to the pandemic).
Is it here on /c/GenZedong? I’d love to have a look if so. Thanks for the insight.
Back then there was more activity on Reddit. Most of us have long since moved on from there. I don’t know if it’s still there or still active.
Ah, I understand. Looks like GenZhou is banned and GenZedong is quarantined on Reddit, so I see why those communities are here now.