Unprecedented protests erupt across China, challenging strict zero-COVID policy

China has said it is confident that its fight against COVID-19 will succeed, with the foreign ministry denying that frustrations against the country’s strict protocols exist at all. This, despite a weekend of anti-lockdown protests — sparked by an apartment fire in Xinjiang’s Urumqi which claimed the lives of 10 people last week. Many have blamed the tragedy on strict COVID curbs. Security has been tightened in major cities to guard against any further outbreaks of civil disobedience.