Covid outbreak in Tibet Autonomous Region impacts growth in China

BEIJING: Surge in covid cases in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) has given a severe blow to Chinese authorities to achieve their annual growth targets as the impact is seen on the already slowing Chinese economy, media reports said.

Xi Jinping's strict zero-Covid policy has forced major cities of TAR to conduct mass testing, and the authorities have shut down indoor entertainment, cultural, and sports venues, Financial Post reported. Moreover, the TAR authorities imposed lockdowns in the major cities of the region including Lhasa, Shigatse (Opposite Sikkim), Shannan (opposite Tawang), Nagri (opposite Ladakh and Uttrakhand), Nagchu, Nyingchi (opposite Arunachal Pradesh) and Chamdo, etc which ultimately lead to falling tourism revenue. However, the surge in covid-19 cases in Tibet has been a result of the Chinese tourists visiting Tibet mainly by train from mainland China. On top of it, the major causes of the slump in the Chinese economy are due to numerous issues like unemployment, and slowing manufacturing.

Meanwhile, the ongoing atrocities against Tibetans inside Tibet have appeared on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo, Wechat, TikTok, and other digital communication channels detailing the abusive behaviors of Chinese police and other officials, the Financial Post reported.

As a result of the ascent in covid cases in numerous regions of Chinese cities and TAR, China has abandoned official growth targets as the property sector revenue has suffered a downfall of 31.4 per cent in 2022, putting pressure on GDP.

Teachers and officials across China have been ordered to pay back bonuses amid the economic slump and civil service bonuses have been suspended in Shanghai, Jiangxi, Henan, Shandong, Chongqing, Hubei, and Guangdong, as the revenue shortages continue to be seen in Central and Provincial governments.

The road seems to be tough for China due to the need for reworking and restructuring the ruptured industrial chain as a result of the Covid pandemic, the pressure of carbon reduction, and global supply chain disruptions, Financial Post reported. (ANI)

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