Will China Ever Reach ‘Zero COVID’?; Why Omicron Is the Hill to Die on for the Communist Party

We explore why China will continue lockdowns even as they prove ineffective against Omicron. At the same time, we take a look at how Shanghai’s COVID-19 response has become a political blockade against Chinese leader Xi Jinping on his quest to get a third term in power. As the humanitarian crisis in Shanghai and other cities continues—including starvation, misery, and more—what lies behind the Communist Party’s brutal draconian enforcement?