Ge Chen, who is an assistant professor in Global Media and Information Law at Durham Law School, argued that "Xi and his party have fallen into a censorship trap."
Though Chinese President Xi Jinping was successful in snubbing women in the leadership shuffle at the 20th Congress where he ensured his third term, however, Xi had to bow down to female protesters, who broke the nation free from the strict Zero-COVID policy.
Beijing on Friday reported the deaths of two former Chinese state media journalists due to Covid-19, the first since most pandemic control measures were lifted on December 7, reported Singapore daily Today.
Nepal's latest change of guard may thus come as a major diplomatic setback for President Xi Jinping as the power equations in Kathmandu, under the Deuba-led coalition, are unlikely to be inclined towards Beijing.
The policy was introduced by the government in view of a renewed surge in coronavirus cases in China where 1,000 new cases have been reported each day. Xi's zero-COVID policy has caused fear, anger, and confusion among the citizens, the report said.
Chinese leadership appears to have put the restrictive 'Zero-Covid' approach on the back-burner for now, even though some cities have been witnessing high infection numbers.
"Xi's problem is that he has surrounded himself with yes-men, who applaud his every act but do not hold a mirror to the life in the street." If they had, the Urumqi apartment fires would not have led to protests and riots.
A recent academic study published in the journal One Earth reveals that there are environmental downsides to China's coastal infrastructure and projects. Africa is the worst affected by these projects. The marine habitats in Caribbean Island nations also face high risk.
In yet another low point in UK-China relations, China has removed six officials from Britain - including one of its most senior UK diplomats - two months after the violence at its Manchester consulate, reported Politico.
The three-day visit of Chinese leader Xi Jinping to Saudi Arabia last week and his talks with the Saudi rulers and other important GCC leaders, as well as the signing of dozens of agreements with Riyadh, shows that Beijing is trying to increase its influence in the region.
On the afternoon of December 9, the first China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit was held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the Summit along with the leaders of the GCC.
Despite the election of Xi Jinping for an unprecedented third term, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to face leadership challenges such as the test of long-term rule, reform and modernisation, revive the market economy and of the external environment.