Jiang Zemin's Funeral - BRI & China-Portugal Ties - Downgrading the Omicron Threat - Zero-COVID's Endgame
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Tuesday, December 06, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily
Page 1: The first two pages are dedicated to Jiang Zemin’s funeral. The story (English report) basically informs that Xi Jinping and other leading cadres visited the PLA General Hospital to pay respect to Jiang, and they escorted his remains to the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery. Hu Jintao was also present with the top leadership.
Page 2: There’s an editorial on Jiang’s legacy. The editorial calls Jiang an “outstanding leader of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” It says that his death is an “immeasurable loss to the Party, our army and our people of all ethnic groups.”
The discussion about Jiang is basically structured into three different sections.
Cherishing his “glorious achievements”; this begins with dealing with the “serious political turmoil” of the late 1980s and early 1990s at home and abroad. This ends with talking about how Jiang continued to support the anti-corruption struggle after he retired from the leadership position.
Cherishing his “outstanding theoretical contributions”
Cherishing his “excellent character and noble demeanour”
Then we get to the present moment, for which the the article says:
“In the new era of reform, opening up and socialist modernisation, the Chinese Communists have continued to struggle, and our country has achieved a historic breakthrough from the relatively backward productive forces to the second largest economic aggregate in the world, and achieved a historic leap in people's life from insufficient food and clothing to a well-off society in general and towards a well-off society in an all-round way. Since the 18th Party Congress, the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has united and led the entire Party, the entire army, and the people of all ethnic groups in the country to lead the great struggle, great project, great cause, and great dream, creating a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The goal of building a moderately prosperous society has been achieved as scheduled, and the cause of the party and the country has made historic achievements and undergone historic changes, pushing my country to embark on a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country. The 20th Party Congress formulated the major policies for the Party and the country at present and for the future, and outlined the grand blueprint for comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernisation. On the new journey, we must more consciously unite around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, adhere to the Party’s basic theory, basic line, and basic strategy, deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, and strengthen the four consciousnesses and four self-confidences and achieve the Two Safeguards; persevere in promoting comprehensive and strict Party governance, deeply promote the new great project of Party building in the new era, lead the social revolution with the Party's self-revolution, ensure that the Party always adheres to its original mission, and always remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” 在改革开放和社会主义现代化建设新时期，中国共产党人接续奋斗，我国实现了从生产力相对落后的状况到经济总量跃居世界第二的历史性突破，实现了人民生活从温饱不足到总体小康、奔向全面小康的历史性跨越。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央团结带领全党全军全国各族人民，统揽伟大斗争、伟大工程、伟大事业、伟大梦想，开创了中国特色社会主义新时代，全面建成小康社会目标如期实现，党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，推动我国迈上全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程。党的二十大制定了当前和今后一个时期党和国家的大政方针，描绘了以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的宏伟蓝图。新征程上，我们一定要更加自觉地团结在以习近平同志为核心的党中央周围，坚持党的基本理论、基本路线、基本方略，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，持之以恒推进全面从严治党，深入推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程，以党的自我革命引领社会革命，使我们党坚守初心使命，始终成为中国特色社会主义事业的坚强领导核心.
Page 3: There are more condolences for Jiang Zemin’s passing.
Then, there’s a reminder the BRI is still around. There’s an article by Fernanda Ilhéu, president of the New Silk Road Friends Association in Portugal. He writes that:
“Portugal firmly supports free trade and opposes protectionism, and is one of the main destinations for Chinese enterprises to invest in Europe. In 2021, the bilateral trade volume between Portugal and China reached $8.811 billion, a year-on-year increase of 26.71%. By the end of December 2021, the accumulated amount of actual Chinese investment in Portugal exceeded 8 billion euros.”
He adds: “Portugal has actively participated in the joint construction of the BRI. It was the first Western European country to sign a BRI MoU. It is also one of the 57 founding members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. In recent years, the two sides have made full use of the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Cooperation and Development Fund, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Silk Road Fund, and BRI special loans to ensure financing support for key projects in areas such as energy, infrastructure construction, and production capacity cooperation. This has effectively promoted the landing of bilateral cooperation projects. Portugal and China are also actively expanding third-party market cooperation in Europe, Africa, Latin America and other regions…China needs Europe for its development, and Europe also needs China for its development. Europe and China have complementary advantages in market, capital and technology, and there is great potential for further strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation. The two sides can jointly build new growth engines, such as digital economy, green environmental protection, new energy and artificial intelligence. Facts have proven that the industrial chain and supply chain formed between Europe and China is in the interests of both sides. Many people of insight in Europe hope to strengthen cooperation with China. The two sides should deepen mutual understanding, eliminate external interference and promote the continuous development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Europe and China.” 葡萄牙坚定支持自由贸易，反对保护主义，是中国企业赴欧投资的主要目的地之一。2021年葡中双边贸易额达88.11亿美元，同比增长26.71%。截至2021年12月底，中国对葡实际投资累计金额超80亿欧元。葡萄牙积极参与共建“一带一路”，是率先同中国签署共建“一带一路”合作谅解备忘录的西欧国家，也是亚洲基础设施投资银行57个创始成员之一。近年来，双方充分利用葡中合作发展基金、亚洲基础设施投资银行、丝路基金、“一带一路”专项贷款等，为能源、基础设施建设、产能合作等重点项目提供融资支持，有力推动了两国合作项目的落地。葡中还积极拓展面向欧洲、非洲、拉美等地区的第三方市场合作。例如，葡萄牙国家电力公司和中国三峡集团联合开发建设英国马里湾海上风电项目，葡萄牙国家能源网公司和中国国家电网公司合作在智利建设能源管道等。这些合作项目为参与各方带来了发展机遇，实现了共赢。中国发展需要欧洲，欧洲发展也需要中国。欧洲和中国在市场、资本、技术等方面优势互补，进一步加强互利合作的潜力巨大。双方可以共同打造数字经济、绿色环保、新能源、人工智能等新增长引擎。事实表明，欧中之间形成的产业链供应链符合双方利益。欧洲许多有识之士都希望加强对华合作。双方应加深相互了解，排除外部干扰，推动欧中全面战略伙伴关系不断发展.
The article concludes saying: “Western countries need to listen carefully to China's voice and establish a correct understanding of China.” 西方国家需要认真倾听中国的声音，建立正确的对华认知.
Again, if you thought BRI was dead and buried, there’s another report today which talks about livelihood projects under BRI. The piece talks about housing and bridge projects in the Maldives, a water supply project in Mauritania being undertaken by PowerChina Port and Shipping Construction Co., Ltd, and a women’s hospital being built in South Sudan.
Next, there’s a report on the Tibar Bay container Port near Dili in Timor-Leste. This was built by the China Harbour Engineering Company, and has just begun operations.
There’s also a report based on MoFA’s spokesperson’s comments yesterday on the the first anniversary of the opening of the China-Laos Railway and the China-built Al Kharsaah photovoltaic power station providing green energy during the Fifa world cup.
Page 4: There has been significant new messaging around the COVID situation in China, which again implies an effort to try and ease policies. Today, in PD, we have a Q&A with Tong Zhaohui, deputy director of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital.
The first question is about the rate of severe infections. Tong answers that:
With the mutation of the virus, the popularisation of vaccination, and the accumulation of experience in prevention and control, the hospitalisation rate, severe infection rate, and fatality rate caused by Omicron have all been greatly reduced. Judging from the current national cases, the main symptoms of Omicron infections are related to an individual’s upper respiratory tract; these mainly manifest as throat discomfort and coughing. Asymptomatic and mild cases account for more than 90% of all cases. There are not many ordinary cases (with symptoms of pneumonia), and the proportion of severe cases (needing high-flow oxygen therapy or needing non-invasive and invasive ventilation) is even smaller. This is quite different from the symptoms caused by the original strain of COVID-19 during the initial outbreak in Wuhan. At that time, there were more severe patients. The lungs of some young and middle-aged patients appeared white, resulting in acute respiratory failure. However, during the current round of outbreaks, according to the treatment in designated hospitals in Beijing, there are only a few patients who really need to be placed on ventilator because of COVID-19. 答：随着病毒变异，以及疫苗接种的普及、防控经验的积累，奥密克戎导致的住院率、重症率、病死率都在大幅降低。从当前全国病例来看，感染奥密克戎变异株后以上呼吸道症状为主，主要表现为嗓子不舒服、咳嗽等。无症状和轻型大约占了90%以上，普通型（出现肺炎症状）已经不多，重症（需要高流量氧疗或接受无创、有创通气）的比例更小。这与武汉保卫战期间新冠病毒原始株导致的症状有很大不同。当时，重症患者较多，一些青壮年患者的双肺也会呈白色，出现急性呼吸衰竭。但本轮疫情期间，从北京的定点医院救治情况看，真正因新冠肺炎导致要插管上呼吸机的患者只有少数几例.
The next question is about the treatment protocols for the elderly and patients with underlying diseases who might get infected with the Omicron strain. Tong basically says that the elderly, patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and other basic diseases, tumour patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and pregnant women in late pregnancy are classified as vulnerable. If they test positive, they will be treated in COVID designated hospitals. Tong adds that “COVID-19’s symptoms of these patients are not obvious, and there is usually no significant difference in treatment.” In specific cases, multidisciplinary experts will be organised for consultation. Once they test negative, they can be shifted to other hospitals. 答：高龄老人，有心脑血管疾病、慢性呼吸道疾病等基础病的患者，正在进行放化疗的肿瘤患者，妊娠晚期孕妇等，免疫力较低，可归纳为脆弱群体。从目前救治情况看，他们感染新冠病毒后住进定点医院，大多数是因为原发疾病，但又因核酸阳性无法住进普通医院。这类患者的新冠肺炎症状不明显，治疗通常没有太大区别。对于CT影像等临床表现为典型新冠肺炎的少数患者，医务人员严格按照标准规范，进行救治。在北京的定点医院，对于部分有基础病的高龄患者，还会组织多学科专家进行会诊。经过治疗，如果患者的核酸检测已经转阴，也将逐步从定点医院分流到其他医院.
Another Q&A on the page talks about the protection of pregnant women and children. This is with Qiao Jie, Dean of Peking University Third Hospital, and Wang Quan, Director of the Emergency Internal Medicine Department of Beijing Children's Hospital. This is rather basic advice, such as monitor if the fever persists for three days at least; check if there is any abdominal pain; make sure that in hospitals children wash hands and wear masks, wash your hands when you get home, ensure a balanced diet and use oral rehydration salts, etc. The piece says that children infected with COVID-19 “have symptoms like fever and cough, which are not much different from other respiratory diseases.” — The last bit is important, because this is a shift in official messaging from the dire threat that COVID-19 was being described as earlier.
For pregnant women, the basic message is that there is nothing to worry about. “The situation of pregnant women infected with the Omicron variant is similar to that of the general population.” Qiao Jie says that around 10% of the cases are symptomatic and the symptoms include dry throat, cough, runny nose, aches and pains, low fever, etc. Generally, they get better in three or four days, and with broad recovery expected in seven days. However, pregnant women with underlying diseases and chronic diseases may have aggravated symptoms after infection, so extra protection should be taken. “孕产妇感染奥密克戎变异株的情况与普通人群相似。”乔杰分析，虽然奥密克戎变异株传播速度快，但总体上看，孕产妇的感染率和症状与普通人群接近，有症状的大约占10%，出现的症状有咽喉干、咳嗽、流鼻涕、浑身酸痛、低烧等，一般三四天就有好转，7天左右就能康复。但是，患有基础病和慢性病的孕产妇，感染后症状可能会加重，因此要格外做好防护.
The report adds that “the possibility of the virus being transmitted to the foetus through the mother is not high, so pregnant women do not need to worry. The virus is also not transmitted through breast milk, so mothers can breastfeed…病毒通过母体传播给胎儿的可能性也不大，孕妇不用担心。病毒也不会通过母乳实现传播，因此产妇可以哺乳. Pregnant women should avoid crowded places, wear masks in public places, and wear N95 masks when going to hospitals; they should keep hands clean to prevent infection; maintain ventilation at home — protecting yourself is protecting the foetus. 孕妇要少去人员密集的场所，在公共场所戴好口罩，去医院最好戴N95口罩；保持手卫生，预防感染；居家时保持通风，保护好自己就是保护胎儿。
Along with these two, do check out this Xinhua article from yesterday. It says that:
“The practice of fighting the epidemic in the past three years shows that we have the foundation, conditions and ability to win the battle of regular epidemic prevention and control.” 近三年的抗疫实践表明，我们有基础、有条件、有能力打赢常态化疫情防控攻坚战.
From the decisive results in the defence of Wuhan and the defence of Hubei, to the successful control of the outbreak caused by the Delta variant, and then the fight against the Omicron variant... China has withstood the impact of multiple rounds of global outbreaks. Practice has fully proved that the guidelines and policies for epidemic prevention and control determined by the Party Central Committee are correct, scientific, and effective. 从取得武汉保卫战、湖北保卫战的决定性成果，到成功控制住由德尔塔变异株引发的疫情，再到迎战奥密克戎变异株……我国经受住全球多轮疫情流行的冲击。实践充分证明，党中央确定的疫情防控方针政策是正确的、科学的、有效的。
China has become the country with the lowest morbidity and death toll from COVID-19 among the major countries in the world. The healthcare and disease control system has withstood the test, and achieved a complete vaccination rate of over 90% for the whole population. The most difficult period has passed, and now the pathogenicity of the Omicron variant is weakening, and our response capabilities are enhancing, which has laid a foundation and provided conditions for continuous optimisation and improvement of prevention and control measures. 中国成为世界主要大国中新冠肺炎发病率最低、死亡人数最少的国家。医疗卫生和疾控体系经受住了考验，实现了全人群疫苗完全接种率超90%。最困难的时期已经走过，现在奥密克戎病毒致病力在减弱，我们的应对能力在增强，这为持续优化完善防控举措奠定了基础，提供了条件.
Do not stop, optimise and improve prevention and control measures according to the time and situation. By continuously tracking the virus’ mutations and efficiently analysing the characteristics of the Omicron variant and its sub-variants, China has continuously improved its understanding of viruses. Dynamically summarising the experience of epidemic prevention and control, from the implementation of the nine versions of the prevention and control plan to the formulation of 20 optimisation measures, China has responded effectively to the uncertainty of the epidemic situation with the stability of prevention and control strategies and the flexibility of prevention and control measures. The World Health Organization stated on December 2 that we are now closer to the moment when we can declare the end of the emergency phase of the novel coronavirus pandemic, but we have not reached that stage yet. 不停步，因时因势优化完善防控措施。持续跟踪病毒变异，高效分析奥密克戎及其亚分支特点，我国不断提高对病毒的认识。动态总结疫情防控经验，从先后推行九版防控方案，到制定二十条优化措施，我国以防控战略的稳定性、防控措施的灵活性，有效应对疫情形势的不确定性。世界卫生组织12月2日表示，我们现在距离能够宣布新冠大流行紧急阶段结束的那一刻更近了，但我们还没走到那一步.
Epidemic prevention and control is a systematic project, and every link is very important. Returning to normalcy is our common aspiration. We must fully, comprehensively and accurately grasp and implement prevention and control measures, standardise operations, ensure that there are no distortions, continuously improve awareness and understanding, strengthen governance capabilities, strengthen our governance capacity, make full preparations and promote the continuous optimisation of prevention and control measures. Be as careful in the end as in the beginning and finish well. Persistence is victory, persistence will result in victory! 疫情防控是一项系统工程，每一环都很重要。回归正常是我们的共同心愿，我们要完整、全面、准确地把握和执行防控措施，规范操作、不变形不走样，不断提升认识，加强治理能力，做好充分准备，推动防控措施持续优化。慎终如始、善作善成。坚持就是胜利，坚持必将胜利！
Some other related information:
Exclusive: China may announce 10 new COVID easing steps on Wednesday: “Management of the disease may be downgraded as soon as January, to the less strict Category B from the current top-level Category A of infectious disease, the sources said on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity…China will allow home quarantine for some of those testing positive, among the supplementary measures set to be announced, two sources told Reuters last week. That would be a key change in strategy from earlier this year, when entire communities were locked down, sometimes for weeks, after just one positive case.”
Cover Story: China’s ‘Zero-Covid’ Looks Done. So, What to Expect Next?
One final thought on the changes in the country’s COVID control policies. For nearly three years, we have heard that China’s pandemic control policies were guided by science. Isn’t it strange how it was political churn because of the protests rather than any scientific advice that has led to the changes. In official discourse, long COVID seemingly is no longer a concern and neither is the threat of COVID to vulnerable groups. For all the rhetoric, politics was always in command for Beijing when it came to COVID.
Finally, there’s a report on personnel changes by the State Council.
Wu Zhaohui was appointed vice minister of science and technology, and no longer serves as president of Zhejiang University.
Liu Zheng was named vice minister of civil affairs, while Fu Xuyin was named vice minister of transport.
Wang Benqiang replaced Wang Wenbin as deputy auditor general of the National Audit Office.
Zhang Taolin was removed from the post of vice minister of agriculture and rural affairs, while Fan Yifei was removed from the post of vice governor of the People's Bank of China.
Wang Anshun was removed from the post of deputy director of the Development Research Center of the State Council, and Zhao Zhengping no longer serves as vice chairperson of the China Securities Regulatory Commission.
Wang Jianjun is no longer head of the China National Committee on Ageing, and Dou Xiankang is no longer president of Wuhan University.