Dr. Yanzhong Huang: "What is Happening in Shanghai Has its Impacts Felt All Over the World."

Published: April 20, 2022, 1:56 p.m.

Dr. Yanzhong Huang is\xa0Professor\xa0at Seton Hall University's School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Senior\xa0Fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, and co-chair of the US-China Working Group of the CSIS Commission on Strengthening America\u2019s Health Security.\xa0\nHe joined Steve Morrison in the our 133rd\xa0episode for a wide-ranging conversation: on China\u2019s huge immunity gap; its \u201cdynamic Zero-Covid approach;\u201d the spread of BA-2 beyond Shanghai to 45 cities affecting 25% of China\u2019s population and 40% of its GDP; the acute vulnerability of China\u2019s elderly; and the supply chain disruptions and huge economic consequences experienced inside China and, increasingly, felt across the globe. Deaths are underreported, and popular discontent has risen, even while it remains doubtful that majority opinion has shifted against Zero-Covid.\nWhile the Chinese government has made some modest adjustments to its fierce reliance on mass lockdowns, testing and quarantining, it has not fundamentally changed course. \u201cZero-Covid will continue.\u201d\xa0Opposition is at the highest level -- at the Presidency itself: \u201cthe barrier is political.\u201d It remains unclear when if ever the government will move to a mass campaign using a Western mRNA vaccine, a key step to creating immune protection and easing reliance on lockdowns. Successful development of a Chinese mRNA vaccine has thus far been elusive.