First rate. A level of detail not available in western reporting certainly. Perhaps unfortunately, this will feed the cartoonish image of China bad in the western press, and social media.
The real China is rarely this cartoonish. Cartoons can't deliver goods or feed people. This work has to be done by real people in the real world, i.e. one directed by the market rather than by the sword. Until a few weeks ago, Shanghai was one of the most affluent cities in the world. This is a huge step down and people are not going to lightly accept hunger as the new normal. Nor are they going to accept the suspension of most civil rights. There is a limit to most people's patience, and in many cases my feeling is that we are already past it.
I live in Shanghai. The below have not been officially published in any Chinese oficial governmental platform.
“To date, as of April 8th, 2022, the Commissar is sticking to her guns and has granted a very short (though slowly expanding) list of exceptions, namely:
- Households which include foreigners
- Households which include children under 2
- Households which include elderly over 80
- Households with a special medical situation, such as people convalescing after major surgery
Those eligible for an exception are permitted to quarantine at home until they can pass the tests and sit off the required number of additional quarantine days.”
Indeed it would be nice if there were actually some official announcements. That said, that lack of transparency makes it easier for them to change these rules all the time. Which they do. When originally formulated, the age-based exception was for households with elderly over 65. That didn't last long. From what I hear today, the "special medical situation" exception just got axed by the Commissar. Multiple victims were told to pack their bags.
They're not in public groups. However, that should not stop you from asking your local committee. I don't get the impression that this is a secret. Pretty hard to keep it secret when it's at least the second hottest topic in Shanghai at the moment. I suspect hunger is still the #1.
perhaps in a few years Ms. Sun will quietly be pushed to the party sideline, maybe even very lightly criticized, because of the rancor this whole debacle has raised in Shanghai. Or maybe not. But I think you are correct that this experience will not easily be forgotten by the 90后 & 00后.
Unfortunately at this point the exemption doesn't seem to apply retroactively. These guidelines were only issued a few days ago. Once you're inside, from what we've heard, it's pretty hard to get out. Maybe you can share with us what your experience has been? Do you have medical support there? Have you been told what conditions you have to meet to get out? Have you complained to your consulate? If so, what did they say?
Hi Austrian China...do you have a link or official govt post about the "foreigners cannot be sent to quarantine" issue?...I'm in SH, and your article caused quite a fuss in one of the wechat groups...of course nothing is believed until it comes from above...if you have something like that, it would be very much appreciated...and I enjoyed the article...19 years in China, and good to see someone writing with a perspective based on the reality here...JB
As mentioned in response to another comment, indeed it would be nice if there were actually some official announcements. Our information comes from neighborhood committee statements made by telephone and in private WeChat groups. That said, the lack of transparency makes it easier for them to change these rules all the time. Which they do. When originally formulated, the age-based exception was for households with elderly over 65. That didn't last long. From what I hear today, the "special medical situation" exception just got axed by the Commissar. Multiple victims were told to pack their bags. However - and here's the catch - if enough people refuse, they have neither the resources nor the willpower to break down their doors and haul them all off by force. And besides, at this point they don't even have the resources to deal with the people who agreed to be hauled off, much less the resisters.
@austrianchina. I am an Foreign national with covid in Shanghai. I was told on the 7th I would be taken to centralised quarantine. I am still at home. Do you have the China news link in regards to foreign nationals being allowed to stay at home. Please
There is a good chance you won't get picked up, but it would be better to proactively contact your neighborhood committee and ask for an exemption. Unfortunately these "rules" change all the time and nothing gets published. That aside, you don't have to agree to be hauled off. If you don't make it easy on them, you're less likely to be targeted.
It's probably for the better if it never becomes official policy...if the locals found out about preferential treatment of laowais, it would be a problem...
I am here, right now in Shanghai, living this senseless and chaotic nightmare. And I can confirm the accuracy I of what is written in this sublime article. On the analytical level, it is impressive to see a rich totalitarian regime in action, displaying all its power and resources, even on a senseless campaign. With the aid of technology, China has become a much feared sci-fi Orwellian society. But to me, the good news is, as far as I can see, they are never ruling the world. The power is willing to crash and burn in order to accomplish futile objectives, no leadership under that line is destined to last for long.
There are far more doctors (globally) presenting evidence to the contrary than there are studies suggesting it's ineffective...all you have to do is dig a little.
Hi! Can you post the link to the announcement that says foreigners are exempt from the camps?. I'd love to share it, but want to check first. It would be a MASSIVE relief to those of us trapped here. Thanks!
Out of hundreds of Chinese and English-language articles I have read these days, this was by far the most informative one and also closest to my understanding of reality in Shanghai today. Thank you.
First rate. A level of detail not available in western reporting certainly. Perhaps unfortunately, this will feed the cartoonish image of China bad in the western press, and social media.
October will be interesting:
The real China is rarely this cartoonish. Cartoons can't deliver goods or feed people. This work has to be done by real people in the real world, i.e. one directed by the market rather than by the sword. Until a few weeks ago, Shanghai was one of the most affluent cities in the world. This is a huge step down and people are not going to lightly accept hunger as the new normal. Nor are they going to accept the suspension of most civil rights. There is a limit to most people's patience, and in many cases my feeling is that we are already past it.
Great article Austrian China.
Thanks for posting quality info.
Love your substack.
All the best
I live in Shanghai. The below have not been officially published in any Chinese oficial governmental platform.
“To date, as of April 8th, 2022, the Commissar is sticking to her guns and has granted a very short (though slowly expanding) list of exceptions, namely:
- Households which include foreigners
- Households which include children under 2
- Households which include elderly over 80
- Households with a special medical situation, such as people convalescing after major surgery
Those eligible for an exception are permitted to quarantine at home until they can pass the tests and sit off the required number of additional quarantine days.”
Indeed it would be nice if there were actually some official announcements. That said, that lack of transparency makes it easier for them to change these rules all the time. Which they do. When originally formulated, the age-based exception was for households with elderly over 65. That didn't last long. From what I hear today, the "special medical situation" exception just got axed by the Commissar. Multiple victims were told to pack their bags.
Do you have any sources in Chinese for the exemptions mentioned for foreigners?
Just statements on WeChat from various 居委会 (neighborhood committees).
Any chance you can link to any of them so we can check with our own committees if they share the same view?
They're not in public groups. However, that should not stop you from asking your local committee. I don't get the impression that this is a secret. Pretty hard to keep it secret when it's at least the second hottest topic in Shanghai at the moment. I suspect hunger is still the #1.
excellent article
perhaps in a few years Ms. Sun will quietly be pushed to the party sideline, maybe even very lightly criticized, because of the rancor this whole debacle has raised in Shanghai. Or maybe not. But I think you are correct that this experience will not easily be forgotten by the 90后 & 00后.
Great article! I hope it will not be blocked soon. Didn’t see any official announcement regarding those exemptions. Wish we could see the source.
Great article. However, I write this as a foreigner currently.interned at said fangcang, so the foreigner exemption is not 100 reliable...
Unfortunately at this point the exemption doesn't seem to apply retroactively. These guidelines were only issued a few days ago. Once you're inside, from what we've heard, it's pretty hard to get out. Maybe you can share with us what your experience has been? Do you have medical support there? Have you been told what conditions you have to meet to get out? Have you complained to your consulate? If so, what did they say?
Hi Austrian China...do you have a link or official govt post about the "foreigners cannot be sent to quarantine" issue?...I'm in SH, and your article caused quite a fuss in one of the wechat groups...of course nothing is believed until it comes from above...if you have something like that, it would be very much appreciated...and I enjoyed the article...19 years in China, and good to see someone writing with a perspective based on the reality here...JB
As mentioned in response to another comment, indeed it would be nice if there were actually some official announcements. Our information comes from neighborhood committee statements made by telephone and in private WeChat groups. That said, the lack of transparency makes it easier for them to change these rules all the time. Which they do. When originally formulated, the age-based exception was for households with elderly over 65. That didn't last long. From what I hear today, the "special medical situation" exception just got axed by the Commissar. Multiple victims were told to pack their bags. However - and here's the catch - if enough people refuse, they have neither the resources nor the willpower to break down their doors and haul them all off by force. And besides, at this point they don't even have the resources to deal with the people who agreed to be hauled off, much less the resisters.
Thank you...after I hit "post" I noticed the reply to the other post...appreciate you repeating yourself...take care, JB
This is a factual based, good analysis
@austrianchina. I am an Foreign national with covid in Shanghai. I was told on the 7th I would be taken to centralised quarantine. I am still at home. Do you have the China news link in regards to foreign nationals being allowed to stay at home. Please
There is a good chance you won't get picked up, but it would be better to proactively contact your neighborhood committee and ask for an exemption. Unfortunately these "rules" change all the time and nothing gets published. That aside, you don't have to agree to be hauled off. If you don't make it easy on them, you're less likely to be targeted.
What are your sources on these exceptions? It would be good to be able to quote the official Chinese announcement if it ever came to it...
居委会 (neighborhood committees)
It's probably for the better if it never becomes official policy...if the locals found out about preferential treatment of laowais, it would be a problem...
I am here, right now in Shanghai, living this senseless and chaotic nightmare. And I can confirm the accuracy I of what is written in this sublime article. On the analytical level, it is impressive to see a rich totalitarian regime in action, displaying all its power and resources, even on a senseless campaign. With the aid of technology, China has become a much feared sci-fi Orwellian society. But to me, the good news is, as far as I can see, they are never ruling the world. The power is willing to crash and burn in order to accomplish futile objectives, no leadership under that line is destined to last for long.
Ivermectin is not, in anyway, effective against corona virus.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2115869
Opinions vary. There are plenty of other studies which show the opposite.
There are far more doctors (globally) presenting evidence to the contrary than there are studies suggesting it's ineffective...all you have to do is dig a little.
Hi! Can you post the link to the announcement that says foreigners are exempt from the camps?. I'd love to share it, but want to check first. It would be a MASSIVE relief to those of us trapped here. Thanks!
AFAIK there is no such link. There are no 'officially announced' policies, and the unannounced policies change from day to day.
Out of hundreds of Chinese and English-language articles I have read these days, this was by far the most informative one and also closest to my understanding of reality in Shanghai today. Thank you.
Excellent status report. Good to know with my son and family residing in SH. 👍🏼