Why an unstable China concerns the rest of the world

Beijing may get tough on foreign front to distract from zero-COVID debacle

Given his authoritarian bent and the country's low vaccination rates, Chinese President Xi Jinping might ease his zero-COVID policy but will not easily abandon it. (Source photos by Reuters)

HIROYUKI AKITA, Nikkei commentator

December 11, 2022 14:05 JST

TOKYO -- In an extremely rare development, crowds protested in major cities across China in late November to criticize the country's draconian COVID-19 restrictions, with some demonstrators openly questioning Communist Party rule.