Shanghai lockdown 'disaster' prompts Chinese to eye move overseas

Online searches on how to emigrate surge as draconian virus measures take toll

Sanitation workers spray disinfectant at Shanghai's historic district The Bund. The city of 25 million has been locked down since late March after it was hit by its worst COVID-19 outbreak. © Getty Images

CISSY ZHOU, MARRIAN ZHOU, and KENJI ASADA, Nikkei staff writers

April 27, 2022 17:57 JST

HONG KONG/NEW YORK/TOKYO -- Coco Yu gave up a chance to become a U.S. citizen and moved back to her native China as the world's now second-largest economy was soaring.

Fifteen years later, the Shanghai-based writer is deeply regretting that decision in the midst of virus lockdowns that have confined millions to their homes and sparked widespread anger over China's strict zero-COVID strategy.