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Dazzling but empty stadiums a symbol of China's fading soccer dream

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By Poornima WEERASEKARA

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Never heard of the Asian Cup. What a waste of money.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

I think China may be heading for an economic crash a la Japan 1990.

As far as them hosting any Asian Cups or World Cups, any organizing committee with a conscious should nix that as long as China has concentration camps and abusive human rights issues.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

China will be fine.

"China's reputation as a reliable sporting event host has been damaged," the sports consultant Bi said.

In contrast, how is Japan's reputation after the recent summer Olympics?

China still has money, and will be able to host events in the future when it is ready.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

In contrast, how is Japan's reputation after the recent summer Olympics?

Pretty good I'd say. Why wouldn't it be? They aren't locking up / locking down millions of their own citizens for a start.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Hey, at least they’re showing the NBA again.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

China has a real estate bubble with ghost towns and abandoned condominium projects (see Evergrande)

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The Chinese economy had a lot of cracks in it, but the level of control the state had might have allowed restructuring and soft landings, the more solid parts of the economy supporting the rest.

Not with Covid Zero. If they stick to it, the economy will simply crash. It will be as devastating as Mao's Cultural Revolution and set China back decades. From first world consumer economy on the edge of surpassing the US in so many benchmarks, to a failed state in economic disarray in a couple of years.

What happens next depends upon how complete Xi's power is. Will the CCP follow him and his Covid Zero policy over the cliff or cut him loose and take a different path?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Not with Covid Zero. If they stick to it, the economy will simply crash. It will be as devastating as Mao's Cultural Revolution and set China back decades.

China started zero covid more than 2 years ago, and had positive growth during the entire crisis.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

China started zero covid more than 2 years ago, and had positive growth during the entire crisis.

In spite of the policy, not thanks to it according to multiple reports by experts.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

In spite of the policy, not thanks to it according to multiple reports by experts.

In spite of the effects Covid has on society, as any medical professional would know. As usual, you provide no statistical data to support your "claims".

New Zealand, which copied China's zero covid policy at the start of the crisis, went into a recession. And when it eased restrictions, its infections and related deaths zoomed to some of the highest rates in the world, while China was the lowest.

Last year, China had the biggest growth in GDP since 1992. China is doing fine, despite your ant-facts denials.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56768663

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

In spite of the effects Covid has on society, as any medical professional would know. As usual, you provide no statistical data to support your "claims".

Articles here where you have commented have made it the sole point of discussion the policy negative effects on their economy, pretending not to know these sources do not work when they contain your participation.

New Zealand, which copied China's zero covid policy at the start of the crisis, went into a recession

Thus proving the policy is bad for the economy, a perfect contradiction of your postion.

And when it eased restrictions, its infections and related deaths zoomed to some of the highest rates in the world, while China was the lowest.

That never happened, the one that went to the highest rates in the world was Hong Kong, which obviously is in China and became overnight one of the places with the highest death rates, does this mean China abandoned the zero covid policy?

Last year, China had the biggest growth in GDP since 1992. China is doing fine, despite your ant-facts denials

The point is that an unnecessary policy is detrimental to China, and other countries have done better with even lower death rates without needing it. That means keeping with a bad policy even if it is not efficient and even if better options are available.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Thus proving the policy is bad for the economy, a perfect contradiction of your postion.

Strange "argument" as proven by China's robust economic growth the first year after the pandemic.

And a source:

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56768663

That never happened, the one that went to the highest rates in the world was Hong Kong, which obviously is in China and became overnight one of the places with the highest death rates, does this mean China abandoned the zero covid policy?

Fact denial.

The point is that an unnecessary policy is detrimental to China, and other countries have done better with even lower death rates without needing it. That means keeping with a bad policy even if it is not efficient and even if better options are available.

You haven't stated a point, but my point is that the zero covid policy results in the lowest number of infections and is proven by the low numbers in China, the UK, Vietnam, New Zealand, and Australia, which had their respective lowest numbers until they eased restrictions at which point the numbers zoomed up.

Anyone who says Australia, for example, had more covid infections during their zero covid period versus when they eased restrictions is not dealing with reality and is a fact denier.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Strange "argument" as proven by China's robust economic growth the first year after the pandemic.

The argument holds, if the policy causes recession (or in the case of China a deceleration) that means you proved it is bad for the economy.

And a source:

Your source clearly says the growth is positive when compared with contraction, and lower than expected, once again you proved the policy reduced this growth.

Friday's figures are below expectations

They are also heavily skewed, and less indicative of strong growth, as they are compared to last year's huge economic contraction

In the first quarter of 2020, China's economy shrank 6.8% due to nationwide lockdowns at the peak of its Covid-19 outbreak

From your own source

You haven't stated a point

Yes I have, it is included in your quote, why quote something just to pretend it is not there?

but my point is that the zero covid policy results in the lowest number of infections

China do not have the lowest number of infections, it is surpassed (as in fewer rates) by countries that do not follow this policy, you yourself have provided sources that prove it so.

but my point is that the zero covid policy results in the lowest number of infections and is proven by the low numbers in China, the UK, Vietnam, New Zealand, and Australia

China had an explosive increase of cases and deaths approximately at the same time, if according to you that can only come from abandoning the policy (and not from the introduction of Omicron, the real cause) does that means that according to you China abandoned the zero covid policy?

There is a reason why you refuse to answer this question, you already know that the answer disproves your point.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The argument holds, if the policy causes recession (or in the case of China a deceleration) that means you proved it is bad for the economy.

NZ went into a recession; China did not.

Which has the stronger economy?

China do not have the lowest number of infections, it is surpassed (as in fewer rates) by countries that do not follow this policy, you yourself have provided sources that prove it so.

China continues to have the lowest infection rate in the world, while developed countries like New Zealand, Australia, and the US are seeing their rates skyrocket.

China had an explosive increase of cases and deaths approximately at the same time, if according to you that can only come from abandoning the policy (and not from the introduction of Omicron, the real cause) does that means that according to you China abandoned the zero covid policy?

Statistical data shows China's rates were lower than any country in the world.

Recently, the media tries to portray China as having a rise in Covid infections.

In reality, China had as many new cases as Miyagi Prefecture the other day.

But if people want to argue with statistics, well, we know what is said about that.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

NZ went into a recession;

For a very short time.

On 17 September 2020, New Zealand economy officially entered into a recession, with the country's gross domestic product contracting by 12.2% in the June quarter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The retail, accommodation, hospitality, and transportation sectors were adversely affected by the international travel ban and a strict nationwide lockdown.[11][12][13]

After successfully containing the virus, the New Zealand economy had sharp growth in what is known as a V-shaped recovery and ended the year with an overall economic expansion of 0.4%, better than the predicted 1.7% contraction.[14] Unemployment also dropped to 4.9% in December 2020, down from a peak Covid effected rate of 5.3% in September.[15]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Zealand

Oops, there I go narrative destroying again.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

if people want to argue with statistics

Um, I'll point out how ridiculous it is to believe CCP statistics. Are you telling us you trust the CCP?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

NZ went into a recession; China did not.

Because of the zero covid policy, which was solved by abandoning it. That proves the policy is a negative influence in the economy.

China continues to have the lowest infection rate in the world,

Statistical data shows China's rates were lower than any country in the world.

As you have accepted this is false, why do you insist on using as an argument something you yourself disproved?

Recently, the media tries to portray China as having a rise in Covid infections.

The numbers reported from the own chinese government and reported in the sites following covid around the world prove that after omicron emerged China's number grew explosively. That is not something the media made up.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

China importantly decelerating their economy every time a new outbreak happens do prove it is a negative factor, and your example of New Zealand is another example

You have been presented with the same information several times

https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus

In cases per million China (at 821.5) is behind Micronesia Macao Marshall Islands Niger Chad Tanzania and Saint Helena.

And you have accepted it as true, for the Chinese numbers is the same.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/china/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

China importantly decelerating their economy every time a new outbreak happens do prove it is a negative factor, and your example of New Zealand is another example

China is the only country in the world to show positive growth throughout the Covid crisis. The logical conclusion is that country is managing the crisis better on the economics side than any other country.

In cases per million China (at 821.5) is behind Micronesia Macao Marshall Islands Niger Chad Tanzania and Saint Helena.

Haha!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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