Defending China’s stringent zero-COVID policy, President Xi Jinping issued another warning to those who dare to doubt the country’s efforts to curb the contagion.  

The statement comes amid Shanghai residents condemning the policy for hindering food and healthcare necessities in the past few weeks, according to CNN. 

At a meeting chaired by the Chinese President on Thursday, the ruling Communist Party’s supreme Politburo Standing Committee swore to “unswervingly adhere to the general policy of ‘dynamic zero-Covid,’ and resolutely fight against any words and acts that distort, doubt or deny our country’s epidemic prevention policies.”

“Our prevention and control strategy is determined by the party’s nature and mission, our policies can stand the test of history, our measures are scientific and effective,” the committee said, according to Xinhua, a government news agency.

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“We have won the battle to defend Wuhan, and we will certainly be able to win the battle to defend Shanghai,” it added. 

According to state media reports, the meeting was the first time that Xi, who delivered an “important speech” at the meeting, publicly talked about China’s ongoing fight against COVID-19. 

Despite the warning, residents of Shanghai continue to express their disapproval over the lockdown through tactics such as protesting from their window panes, striking utensils, and yelling in agony. In a bold move, some residents have taken their frustration up a notch by clashing with frontline workers and police officials. 

Despite the public discontent, Xi has backed up the policy and has “personally commanded and made arrangements” to contain the spread of the virus, according to state media reports. 

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The recent warning consolidates the continuation of the Chinese approach of quick lockdowns, heavy testing, and strict quarantine measures to drag the country out of the worst outbreak it has ever witnessed.