get China’s government will have the virus outbreak under control. At the same time the disused economy moving again.
In a Eiunkaufszentrum in Beijing photo: Ng Han Guan/ap
BEIJING taz | to understand the Status quo of the Chinese economy, a short stroll through the Beijing city centre In the shopping district of Sanlitun, the oversized flagship stores of international fashion manufacturer abandoned factory halls the same. Just a stone’s throw away, bustling with activity: From the surrounding super markets, Beijing, flowing – all with a white respiratory masks in the face with the brim – filled plastic bags. For a Couple of eggs, no one leaves the apartment.
Since few weeks, the Coronavirus Sars-CoV-2, and up to this Monday, it has infected worldwide, more than 71,000 people and at least 1,770 killed – the absolute Bulk of which are in China. As rarely before, the crisis has revealed a fundamental Dilemma of the Communist party to openly emerge: you have to stimulate the economy without putting the health of the population in the game.
In the Saturday edition of the Renmin Ribao, the propaganda organ of the Communist party, to emblazoned the opposition on the title page: President Xi encourages his squad to the growth targets for the current year to meet yet. At the same time another goal is that the company should “allow zero infections”.
the political legitimacy of The government derives from the decades of sustained economic recovery for the people to accept massive restrictions on the freedom of expression and political rights. The Chinese economy through the two years of the ongoing trade war with Washington ends weakened anyway: you are no longer growing as slowly as in 30 years. At the same time, however, a concerned Public is with Argus eyes on the crisis management of the Central government, and whether it is able to bring the Virus under control.
A first approach to the political danger the party could know after the tragic death of the doctor and virus discoverer Li Ruifeng, Wuhan: first, he warned of the risks of a novel, Sars-like pathogen, however, was brought by the authorities to Silence. After the 33-Year-old finally, the Coronavirus has died, called for millions of Internet users on social media and freedom of expression. A few days later, however, the anger started to ebb already.
The far greater danger lurks, however, in the economic losses that the Virus brings. In a first estimate, JPMorgan expects that the projected growth of the people’s Republic in its first year, will shrink to quarter of more than 6 percent on only a percentage point. What this means, on the micro-level to understand that With each day, but damn million agricultural workers without a Job and a wage to do nothing, increases the risk for social unrest.
“I have yet to get any help from the state, the situation is, for me, gradually, seriously,” says the owner of an Irish Pub in downtown Beijing. As one of the few he considers to be Locally open daily, but from the clientele, a fifth comes, at most, only more. The bigger Problem is the lack of personnel, however, is: Many of his employees would still get stuck in the provinces with their families, which they had visited on the occasion of the Chinese new year three weeks ago.
China’s KP needs to boost the economy without putting the health at risk
Originally should from 10. February come back to economic normal operation and offices re-open, factories are put into operation. The Credo of the party cadres the daily press conferences in Beijing was to go Back to the workplace, the most effective measure to combat the Virus. So far, however, only essential industries running in high gear: The factories for protective clothing and face masks produce nearly 80 percent of the usual capacity, in the case of the food industry, the value of which is already at 95 percent.
International corporations remain cautious. Volkswagen, for example, announced on Monday, the day scheduled for resumption of the production in the factories of the joint venture with the Shanghai Automotive would be, at the earliest, on 24. February take place.
on Friday evening, Beijing had smashed the hope of a premature normality: The city government announced that every newcomer has to go from all the provinces of the country for 14 days in quarantine. The dramatic decision, announced late in the evening, is likely to have mainly political reasons: At the 4. March of the people’s Congress of the Communist party is to be held, by far the most important political event of the year. Never has it been postponed or even cancelled. The shame is to prevent the Communist party at any cost – even if the additional economic loss would mean.
