DALIAN, China/BEIJING -- The public backlash against China's stringent zero-COVID approach leaves Beijing with the question of how to walk back a major policy without threatening President Xi Jinping's credibility or risking a potentially deadly mass outbreak.
The government appears to be moving toward a phased exit, as a wave of nationwide demonstrations this week -- with some protesters even calling for Xi to step down -- has forced it to reconsider its approach.
