Plain English with Derek Thompson

The News About Shanghai’s COVID Lockdown Is Shocking. The Reality Might Be Worse.

Apr 15, 2022

Dan Wang, a Chinese writer and tech analyst, reveals the shocking realities of Shanghai's harsh COVID lockdown. He describes the extreme restrictions that confine residents to their homes and separate families, leading to desperate food shortages. The discussion addresses the growing public dissent against the Chinese government's zero-COVID policy and its implications for future governance. Wang also explores the shift in Shanghai’s identity from a vibrant city to one symbolizing repression, amidst fears of rising unrest.

48:21

Episode guests

Dan Wang

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Dystopian Reality of Shanghai's COVID Lockdown

5min

Shanghai Under Siege: Lockdown Realities

18min

Public Response to COVID Lockdowns in Shanghai: Dissent and Discontent

6min

China's Zero-COVID Dilemma

9min

Shanghai's Struggle: Identity and Repression

6min

What’s happening in China’s largest and richest city right now is quite unbelievable. Shanghai is now several weeks into a government lockdown to stop the spread of COVID variants. In a metro with roughly the population of the state of Texas, residents cannot go outside. They cannot walk to grocery stores or pharmacies to pick up essential medicine. If they test positive for COVID, they are removed from their families and taken to quarantine facilities, where conditions are reportedly hellish. As the U.S. enters a stage of normalcy in the pandemic, China is still pursuing a draconian COVID Zero policy at the risk of starving citizens in its richest city. Why? Dan Wang, a Chinese writer and tech analyst, joins the show to talk about what he’s hearing from Shanghai, what China is trying to accomplish, and whether protests could make a difference to the Chinese Communist Party.

Host: Derek Thompson

Guest: Dan Wang

Producer: Devon Manze

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