[randm_sequence]

You can look at China's actions and attempt to explain them as a regime testing the bounds of control that can be exerted over its population.

You can also look at China's Zero Covid policy from the lens that they know something about this virus that we do not. Regardless of said virus' origins, Chinese scientists have been studying corona viruses intently for the last 20 years. My belief, backed up by a good volume of research, is that SARS-CoV2 is an airborne, persistent virus. LongCOVID is simply a persistent viral infection (think HIV or Hepatitis). Given the diversity and large number of cell types impacted, symptoms manifest in a multitude of ways, helping to confuse a Western medical community that assumes the virus clears quickly. The only real question is whether the virus is persistent even in individuals who appear to fully recover. As of now, we are not willing to do the research to detect a slow burn persistent virus of this type. If you need convincing that this is possible, just read up on Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), another corona virus that persists and ultimately kills a percentage of cats. Interestingly enough, FIP can be treated with the exact same anti-virals effective against COVID. From this perspective, the Zero Covid Policy looks quite rational.

Of course, both perspectives above could apply.