China ‘crab-walking’ away from zero-Covid, hardline diplomacy here to stay, Australia’s Kevin Rudd says: SCMP
China is likely to make significant headway in easing its tough zero-Covid policy by mid-2023, with indications that it will emulate a “Hong Kong model” of progressive opening up, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said.
Speaking during a panel discussion on China at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore, Rudd said he believed there had been an “inevitable crab walking” away from its zero-Covid policy since the end of the 20th Party Congress.
There are signs the Hong Kong model is being emulated in cities in Guangdong and elsewhere, and barring a new variant, “China will by midyear be well on its way to being out of this”.