, Columnist
Xi Jinping’s Mask of Competence Has Slipped
China's streets might be quiet again, but the combination of factors that led to the Covid protests will be difficult to fully repress.
Has Xi Jinping’s mask slipped?
Photographer: Xinhua News AgencyThis article is for subscribers only.
An initial moment of danger for the stability of China’s political system looks to have passed. Streets were largely quiet Monday night as police blanketed the site of weekend protests, while health officials struck a conciliatory tone toward those frustrated by Covid restrictions. Markets rallied in response, with Chinese stocks in Hong Kong heading for their best month in almost two decades.
However, it would be premature to conclude that this marks the closure of a chapter.