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China and the Virus

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Factual: Politics

The political impact of Covid-19

BBC Radio 4 - China and the Virus

Has the Covid-19 epidemic weakened or strengthened the grip of China’s Communist Party?

Has the Covid-19 epidemic weakened or strengthened the grip of China’s Communist Party? Mark Mardell investigates.

Has the coronavirus epidemic weakened or strengthened the grip of China’s Communist Party? 

In the early stages of the outbreak in the city of Wuhan, authorities there downplayed its significance. A doctor who sounded the alarm was forced to contradict himself. He later contracted Covid-19 and died from it. Medical facilities were initially unprepared. This and other similar stories led to an explosion of critical comment on Chinese social media, with deep distrust emerging of the official explanations. 

President Xi Jinping initially avoided becoming publicly involved in the response to the epidemic, perhaps to avoid a political taint. The government then began do change tack, instituting wide-ranging and it seems effective restrictions, which have slowed the growth of the epidemic. The central government blamed any problems on failings by local authorities. Many Chinese citizens are now taking pride in their country’s response, even arguing that it is an example to the world, despite the continuing economic slowdown. 

In this documentary, Mark Mardell assesses how President Xi and his government will emerge from the crisis.

Producer: Cat Farnsworth

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