There are deafening silences, or that can be read in many ways. It is the one that stars today the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Zhao Lijian, during the appearance before journalists to defend the zero covid policy of the Communist Party in the midst of multiple protests within the country.
The minister was silent for nearly half a minute after being asked by a reporter whether China would reconsider the policy given the widespread "anger and frustration" among the people. After half a minute of silence in which the minister seems to review his papers in the midst of obvious discomfort, he asks the journalist to repeat the question again. Diligently, the Reuters journalist repeats: "Given the widespread display of frustration with covid-zero policies, is China considering ending it soon? And if so, when?"
Again, the minister remains silent for another 15 seconds before blurting out to the journalist that his question "does not reflect the reality of what happened" in China. And he added that his country had been following a "proactive zero covid policy" and "making adjustments based on the realities on the ground."
