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[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Despite China's "Zero COVID" (zero confirmed cases) policy, the number of deaths is increasing, and the spread of COVID-19 is intensifying. China has once again pointed to Korean imports as the source of COVID-19 infections. Experts explain that viruses on the surface of objects rarely survive for long periods, and even if they do, the likelihood of infection is low. However, as the Chinese government reiterates that Korean imports are the source of COVID-19 infections, there are criticisms that this is an attempt to divert dissatisfaction with the "Zero COVID" policy outward.

On the 25th (local time), the General Administration of Customs of China posted a notice titled "Emergency Preventive Measures for Korean Companies" on its website, stating, "Some external packaging samples of frozen sea bass imported from Korea tested positive in nucleic acid (PCR) tests," and announced, "According to relevant regulations, import declarations for products from Korean seafood company H will not be accepted for the next week."

The Chinese government considers that COVID-19 can be transmitted through frozen imported goods and has established a stringent distribution quarantine system. In this process, Korean imports have been identified as "COVID-19 infection sources," causing difficulties.

Earlier in March, the epidemic prevention authorities of Changnan County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, issued a "Notice on Disinfection of Imported Goods," claiming that Korean imported clothing and goods were sources of infection.

The notice stated, "Among the COVID-19 confirmed cases in Lingxi, Changnan, Zhejiang Province, there were cases who had contact with Korean imported clothing," and "To strengthen COVID-19 prevention on imported goods, disinfection will be conducted on items purchased by individuals, companies, and stores." Following this, concerns about Korean imports grew, and when searching "Korean imported clothing" on Baidu, China's largest portal site, related search terms such as "epidemic situation" and "Is there COVID-19 in Korean imported clothing?" appeared.

Fully locked down Changchun City, Jilin Province, China
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On the 5th, suspicions arose that COVID-19 confirmed cases in Beijing and Jiangsu Province were linked to clothing imported from Korea. According to China's state-run media Global Times, a Chinese health official said, "From 4 p.m. on the 3rd to 4 p.m. on the 4th, 10 new confirmed cases were reported in Beijing," adding, "Among them, 8 were employees, colleagues, and family members of a Korean clothing store located in Beijing."

A Korean clothing retailer told Global Times, "Recently, the number of customers buying products has decreased, which is related to infection cases linked to Korean imported products," and added, "To reduce potential risks, we disinfect products upon arrival and disinfect them once more before shipping to customers."

Previously, China emphasized claims that the virus was introduced from overseas through frozen imports or mail to counter the "COVID-19 Wuhan origin theory." However, experts explain that the possibility of COVID-19 virus detected on the surface of cold chain products or other objects causing infection is low.

In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated, "The coronavirus requires a living animal or human host to reproduce and survive and cannot multiply on the surface of food packaging." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also expressed the view that the risk of COVID-19 infection through contact with contaminated objects or surfaces is low.

On the afternoon of the 25th, a long queue formed at a nucleic acid (PCR) testing site in Chaoyang District, Beijing, the capital of China, where an emergency was declared due to the spread of COVID-19.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Nevertheless, the Chinese government continues to claim that imported goods are sources of COVID-19 infections. In particular, pointing to Korean imports as infection sources seems related to the surge in domestic COVID-19 Omicron variant cases around March. This supports the "external origin theory" of COVID-19 and allows the government to shift responsibility for the failure of the "Zero COVID" quarantine policy outward.

At one time, China boasted a successful quarantine policy with zero confirmed cases, but recently, with the spread of the Omicron variant, the prolonged high-intensity lockdown measures have failed to curb the worsening COVID-19 spread. According to Shanghai health authorities, the daily death toll on the 25th was 52, breaking records for the highest daily deaths with 39 on the 23rd and 51 on the 24th.

Due to the Shanghai lockdown, fear of COVID-19 among Beijing citizens has increased, leading to "panic buying" at supermarkets. This is because, like the sudden city lockdown in Shanghai, there are concerns that Beijing could be locked down overnight. Global Times reported, "Some areas in Chaoyang District are experiencing shortages of fresh food," explaining, "Beijing citizens, witnessing the food shortages in Shanghai, are buying groceries in preparation for any emergency."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret to China for pointing to Korea as a source of COVID-19 infections. A ministry official said on the 7th, "It is not desirable for frontline agencies or media to make thoughtless remarks without understanding the overall implications in terms of Korea-China relations," adding, "We have pointed out the problems to the central and local governments and the media involved and strongly raised our concerns, urging them to take careful measures to prevent such incidents from happening again."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.