OPEN THREAD: Can we talk about what's happening in China?

Or is that a big no-no?

Someone please explain why this is necessary.

In mid-March, around 50 million people were put under Virus house arrest in China’s northeastern province of Jilin and in the southern cities of Shenzhen and Dongguan.

More recently, millions of Shanghai residents were ordered into lockdown as hazmat squads carried out citywide testing. These bold “public health” measures have just been expanded to cover all 25 million people who live in China’s main financial hub.

Global Times @globaltimesnews

#Shanghai conducts citywide nucleic acid test for 25 million residents. The city vowed to finish the mass testing within 36 hours. globaltimes.cn/page/202204/12…

It’s strange there is so little discussion about what the heck is happening in China, considering China’s undeniable importance on the world stage.

So we’ve decided to create an Open Thread where open-minded, thoughtful, very handsome and beguiling people (that’s you) can share their thoughts/URLs/TikToks/etc. on this subject.

Below are a few observations from your humble Moscow correspondent. Please contribute to the discussion in the Comments Section.

Testimonials from westerners: “Food, please”

Let’s start with eyewitness reports from westerners in Shanghai. There are apparently some problems with food acquisition:

Jared T Nelson @Jaredtnelson

Day 16 of our Covid lockdown in Shanghai today and food is the key thing on people’s minds We aren’t allowed to leave home so delivery is the only way I was up at 6 am yesterday trying to get any kind of delivery but nothing was available all day So far, same results today

A fellow who works for the BBC reported he was gifted government-veggies (and later some chicken) but was still struggling to obtain certain items such as… water:

Edward Lawrence @EP_Lawrence

Nobody is allowed outside - not even one person to collect essentials. Given vegetables yesterday by govt but only enough for a couple of days. Need meat, rice, eggs, and most importantly water. Many of my friends in the same position. What about the elderly who don’t use apps?!

Edward Lawrence @EP_Lawrence

8.30pm on day four and it’s a food delivery of vegetables and frozen chicken drumsticks. The lockdown clearly isn’t lifting as planned tomorrow, though I think most people had already gathered that. #shanghai #lockdown

There’s also this guy, who seems genuinely grateful for his vegetable ration:

Arnaud Bertrand @RnaudBertrand

Just received 8kg of free vegetables, courtesy of Chinese government during the Shanghai lockdown. Looks like gratin dauphinois is on the menu tonight with the potatoes!

And here’s a lockdown hymn made by Chinese rappers:

Slightly concerning videos: It’s what Twitter craves?

There are lots of freaky videos floating around. Have you ever seen a robot-dog inspect a QR code? Now you have.

Are these weird visuals somehow staged or fake or something? Maybe? But… they can’t all be hoaxes:

Aaron Ginn @aginnt

Shanghai is using machine guns and the police state to stop COVID.

H̶y̶e̶i̶n̶ 🇺🇸🇰🇷 ✝️🍊 @BabeeHyeinK2021

Positively tested Shanghai Residents are shoved and kicked onto buses violently by military personnel wearing Hazmat suits.

James Melville @JamesMelville

Meanwhile, in China 🇨🇳

ЯΞD PILL LΞD 🔎 @Red_Pill_Led

Shanghai China: It's for your health and safety...

There are many, many more videos. These are the more “tame” ones, actually. What the heck?

Infants separated from their parents?

There are several reports alleging that children who test positive for the Virus are being separated from their parents.

According to state media, parents can accompany their young ones to quarantine centers only if they also test positive.

But there are a lot of videos which appear to show unattended children—including infants. Authorities claimed that videos showing crying, unattended children were taken at a pediatric ward of a hospital, and are not from a quarantine center. Okay but still…. where are the parents?

Shanghai Daily @shanghaidaily

Parents can accompany their children to quarantine and for treatment at designated sites if both the parent and child test positive of #COVID19, according to the Shanghai Health Commission. shine.cn/news/metro/220…

Global Times @globaltimesnews

At around 9 pm on Mon, ambulances carrying children with #COVID19 arrived at a makeshift hospital with their parents. A medical group from #Shanghai Children’s Medical Center is responsible for their medical care.

lakelakekkk @lakelakekkk

2022.4.1，上海，令人惊诧到极限的婴幼儿隔离点，已经无法用语言描述的震惊！

Blake Stone-Banks @blakestonebanks

Separating children from parents has to stop. Heartbreaking and pointless. Chinese families deserve better. #Shanghai

Jerry🐦 @Jerry4Ji

Ten nurses take care of 200 children who were separated from their parents in the epidemic in Shanghai, China. #TheGreatTranslationMovement

WakeUpHumans @Thunderace4

Another video has leaked of 200 kids locked up in COVID quarantine at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center. The kids have been separated from their parents. There is only 10 nurses taking care of 200 kids.The Chinese Communist Party is reportedly trying to censor all videos

Chu Yang @ChuYang_Journ

A video uploaded to TikTok was alleged to show the isolated minors at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center. The kids (including one 58-day-old) who tested positive were separated from parents. 10 nurses are taking care of 200 kids. The original video has now been removed.

Some Chinese people are… unhappy?

Seems so:

来去之间💙💛 @ComeAndGo8964

浦东某小区，居民突破封锁 原因只有一个：没食物了

cherrycat @cherryfatcat

A district in Shanghai has been in lockdown for 26 days without supplies, residents began to protest

Edward’s Official Position

Our position on this matter was perfectly articulated by this Chinese guy who calmly tried to smoke a cigarette as hazmat-goons harassed him:

Manya Koetse @manyapan

This maskless, smoking guy in Shanghai seemed to be on a mission for trouble amidst epidemic panic and he ended up going viral on Chinese social media today.

Discuss.