"At the Level of Catching Chickens with a Butcher's Knife... China Fights COVID-19 with Guns and Shields"

After COVID-19 Cases Emerge, Tourists Controlled with 'Guns and Shields'
Strengthened Quarantine Ahead of Xi Jinping's 3rd Term Confirmation at 20th Party Congress
"Quarantine Like Using a Butcher's Knife to Kill a Chicken"

There is controversy locally as police officers carrying guns and shields control tourists at a famous tourist site in China. The photo shows a traveler wearing a mask standing at a train station in Beijing, China, on the 6th. This is unrelated to any specific expressions in the article.
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Controversy has erupted locally as police armed with guns and shields controlled tourists at a famous tourist destination in China. This is interpreted as an effect of the Chinese government strengthening its high-intensity zero-COVID policy to prevent the spread of COVID-19 ahead of the opening of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (Party Congress).

According to Hong Kong Ming Pao on the 7th, Jinghong City in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, a southern tourist area, has locked down part of the city since the 3rd and prevented tourists from moving within hotels where they are staying.

Earlier, from the 1st to the 7th, a large number of tourists flocked to Xishuangbanna for the National Day holiday. However, as COVID-19 cases emerged during the holiday, Jinghong City in Xishuangbanna implemented a lockdown and prohibited tourists from moving.

As a result, at the locked-down Xishuangbanna airport, armed agents holding guns and tourists with restricted movement faced off in a tense situation. Photos and videos showing agents in white protective suits controlling citizens with guns and shields were posted on social media (SNS).

Generally, some security personnel at airports carry guns depending on their roles, but it is rare to use guns for quarantine control unless there is a threat to safety such as terrorism. Some tourists criticized, saying, "You are aiming guns at your own people," or shouted, "I want to go home," the media reported.

The situation is similar in another tourist destination, Zhangjiajie in Hunan Province. On the 6th, after one COVID-19 case was confirmed, part of the city was locked down. Subsequently, railways and airports were all closed to prevent the spread of infection.

China's COVID-19 prevention smartphone health code. When the health code shows green, you can move freely. However, yellow restricts access to public places and use of public transportation, and red indicates quarantine. Photo by Hwang Sumi choko216@asiae.co.kr

Additionally, the health codes on smartphones used for COVID-19 prevention for hundreds of tourists turned red, effectively imposing a complete travel ban. China's health codes are distinguished by green, yellow, and red colors. When the health code is green, one can move freely. However, yellow restricts access to public places and public transportation, and red requires quarantine.

In response, tourists and citizens expressed outrage. One tourist said, "Over 300 people waited for more than 10 hours at the airport without being able to board a plane," adding, "We were only told that we must stay three more days at our own expense and undergo COVID tests for the health code to change."

On SNS, images of citizens trapped in a parking lot after their health codes turned red were posted one after another. Other tourists reportedly had to wait about five hours outside the Zhangjiajie West Railway Station in chilly 13-degree weather, the media said. Some ignored the travel ban and gathered at Zhangjiajie City Hall to protest, but to no avail.

Despite growing inconvenience and dissatisfaction among citizens, authorities are expected to continue strengthening the zero-COVID policy. This is because the 20th Party Congress, which will confirm Chinese President Xi Jinping’s third term, is scheduled for the 16th.

The media reported that most local governments regard COVID-19 prevention as an important political task ahead of the upcoming Party Congress. To this end, they are even using force to prevent the virus from spreading to other regions.

However, among the locked-down residents, concerns and complaints are simultaneously emerging. The media also criticized the Chinese government’s excessive quarantine measures, describing them as "using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken."