Yogyakarta, 11 July 2020—Institute of International Studies, part of the Department of International Relations UGM, organized the ninth episode of online serial discussion Beyond the Great Wall under the theme of “China: Issues Amidst the New Normal”.
The discussion, conducted through Google Meet, invited Julian Lilihata–an alumnus of Tsinghua University–speaking on “The Second Wave of Corona in Beijing” and Arrizal Anugerah Jaknanihan, a student in Department of International Relations UGM, delivering his presentation themed “From Beijing to the Streets of Hong Kong: How Student Protests Shape Democratization Movements in Beijing”. Present, also, was Dr. Nur Rachmat Yuliantoro, Head of International Relations Department UGM, acting as the moderator of the discussion.
Julian began the discussion by giving illustrations on current conditions and efforts in tackling the second wave of the pandemic in China. She noted a few important points of the Chinese government efforts throughout the last phases of the first wave. Digitalization had been applied in almost every aspect of life, including in the digital resident identification card and electronic money. “But the most important part to note is the Beijing Health Kit Application that is used in everyday life and serves the people’s daily needs,” she remarked.
“I witnessed many volunteers working to serve the people in quarantine,” Julian added. The volunteers helped in fulfilling the needs of people in quarantine to ensure people stay at home at all times. Their job varied, ranging from distributing groceries to disposing household trash. Moreover, the government applied aggressive policies. She viewed the government’s discretion positively, as the policy was effective in suppressing COVID-19 cases.
Julian also elaborated on the chronology of the second wave in China. The first case of the second wave was discovered in two workers in an animal meat research center in Fengtai district. After a massive test in the district, the local authority discovered another case in Xinfandi market. Upon a number of discoveries in Fengtai, the government took a bold action of firing three people considered negligent: the general manager of the Xinfandi market, one Party Secretary, and the Deputy Head of Fengtai District. “The government also applied wartime mechanism, meaning that they are putting up their strongest defense,” Julian added.
Difference in the initial and current response, Julian noted, was visible. Unlike in the first wave, the central government organized massive and aggressive testing on people affected, directly or indirectly, immediately upon discovery of the first cases. In addition, the duration of quarantine was extended from 14 days, initially, to 21 days. “Offices and institutions were actively involved in organizing a swab test for its members,” Julian informed.
The discussion continued with Arrizal’s presentation on student-driven democratization movements in China. He reckoned that the movement was already visible ever since the pro-democracy protests emerged. Since 1976, the Chinese political system hasn’t been focusing on ideology. The once-repressive government, now, doesn’t actively fight the movement as long as they can benefit off of it. “A number of pro-democracy protests are continuous and unified under the democratization movement in China,” Arrizal remarked.
“The pro-democracy movement in China did not only derive from the Cold War, but also pro-democracy ideas nurtured by universities and students,” Arrizal explained. He added that five reasons advanced students’ role as the main driver of pro-democracy protests in China: (1) protest culture amongst students; (2) demands for a democratization movement; (3) the realization of “democracy” by Peking University and Tsinghua University; (4) moral support from scholars and universities; (5) weak bond between students and the state.
The discussion, attended by 60 participants, was wrapped up with a question-and-answer session. Dewi Oktaviani, a participant, asked how China stabilized its economy amidst the pandemic. According to Julian, the big loans issued by the central bank and changes in fiscal policies succeeded in securing the Chinese economy. “Such efforts were announced by the government through mass media,” Julian concluded.