There had been rumours about this so-called “Stand-Still” period when all activities will be forbidden, including all deliveries, back in April. We reported it back then, But it did not actually happen. Now, many people are posting on Twitter that it is happening. Often, with pushback from the residents in Wechat groups, “essential” purchases will be allowed.
Meanwhile, there are also official announcements that some supermarket is open for business. Some Shanghainese happily went and was told that shopping is by invitation only and was turned away at the door. But the people who were invited got VIP welcome, you can see the video for yourself here.
At the same time, the government declared that the society has achieved COVID 0 for three days and Shanghai lockdown is eased now. However, Shanghai people disagree with that. They decided to report the government to the anti-fraud app for spreading rumours.
With half of the expats in Shanghai considering leaving the city for good within a year, and many middle class Shanghaineses considering immigrating out of China, border crossing is just getting harder. Rumours are spreading fast on social media that border controls will interrogate any Chinese citizens trying to board an international flight. If you can not convince them that you are going to be out of China for a long time, they will not let you out. Some people even said that their passport got confiscated. However, some people challenge this narrative, since there is no real evidence of it. People still can get out of China, but you have to have student visa, immigration visa or work visa.
Yes, this is happening, according the Financial Times. Before, it was only people from Xinjiang that got this treatment. And most of Chinese people were quite okay with it, because they think Xinjiang people deserve it. Now, it is their turn. Someone reminded everyone that back in Dec 2021 when the party secretary of Xinjiang Chen Quanguo stepped down, there were already prediction of what is coming:
I hope that Secretary Chen can spread his experience of ruling Xinjiang to all of China so that all Chinese can enjoy the good lives of Xinjiang people.
We reported this back then in Newsletter 12.
Mike, an American who teaches English in Shanghai, came back to China a year ago. He posted on Weibo his happy quarantine for two weeks in a hotel back then. He said that the hotel stay was so good that his two year-old son did not want to leave.
According to his Weibo, he was so sure of the future of Shanghai that he bought an old apartment in Shanghai. The seller did not transfer the apartment to him until he got the mortgage, which took him one year. Now he got his own apartment but he needs renovation and before he could move in, he reported on Weibo that his family got COVID and now he is waiting to be taken to Fang Cang (COVID treatment center). In his video on Weibo, he said “This was our worst fear and now it is becoming out reality.”
Many Chinese critical of the Chinese COVID policy expressed amazement that even the foreigner can misjudge the situation.
In late April, a short video poking fun at Shanghai lockdown showed up on Weibo, as Alison Alison fake news. The comedian, Dawn Wang speaks with perfect English, so you can watch it here. It went viral.
In early May, a sequel was posted on Weibo, you can watch it on YouTube.
On May 10th, Dawn Wang posted on Weibo that she was taken by the police, and the next day, she posted again saying: “Thanks to everyone, I am fine, no need to worry”.
Her videos were taken down from Weibo. Her YouTube channel is still up though!
Rumours are saying that because her husband is Irish, the government let her go.
Peter Hessler is one of the most beloved American writers in China. In 2019, he took his family to China and taught non-fiction in a Chinese University. Last year, he lost his teaching contract and had to leave China. Lately, he wrote an article in the New Yorker ‘A Teacher in China Learns the Limits of Free Expression’ detailing his observation and experience teaching in China, with focus on censorship and how Chinese people think of it. It is insightful on how Chinese think and deal with the system. Surprisingly, he taught George Orwell to his students.
Meanwhile, he was interviewed by Evan Osnos, another New Yorker writer who had reported from China many years ago. You can listen to 30mn interview instead, if you find the New Yorker article too long.