 |
| Kevin Rudd describes the Elephants |
Once called an “old friend” by Beijing, former Australian leader Kevin Rudd minced no words in his recent comment on China. China’s slowing economy – not the Ukraine War – is the biggest elephant in the room for a world in crisis, he says.
While Rudd’s assertion is controversial, it reflects the intensifying debates about Beijing’s policies, particularly its tough anti-pandemic measures. While the Chinese government is adamant about maintaining a zero-Covid policy, critics are questioning its sustainability, pointing to unreasonable incidents like asking students to take swimming tests “online”.
Some mainlanders are now comparing Shanghai with Hong Kong. After a harrowing ride with the fifth wave of the Covid-19 outbreak, Hong Kong seems to be recovering well. Photos of avid train enthusiasts celebrating the opening of a new metro line prompted envious online discussions among Shanghai residents, who are still under lockdown. In Hong Kong, business chambers are urging the government to scrap quarantine requirements for travellers. A top government advisor is less optimistic, warning that the city could be hit by the sixth wave soon. Talks are now on how to speed up the vaccination programme, including the fourth jab for the elderly.
Geopolitical tension over the Taiwan Strait also keeps rising. The People’s Liberation Army is turning the screw on Taipei and doubling down on its development of strategic weapons, such as next-generation submarines. Amid rising antagonism, even a tragic shooting incident in the US has become a lightning rod triggering heated discussion on both sides.
Chow Chung Yan
Executive Editor
