One of the most interesting geopolitical situations surrounding Covid-19 must be Hong Kong.
It was notable that, in Jan/Feb 2020, the authorities were significantly backing off various aspects such as extradition; possibly in response to protests but also because of the perception from the West.
Covid has led to Hong Kong becoming far more isolated from the West (and indeed everywhere), and since then tensions have risen once again, with less media coverage (as a proportion of their significance). An effective travel ban with the West has been a key part of this.
In the last few months it has been stated that the intention is to pursue Zero Covid in order to reopen links with China. This could be a very interesting crossroads for Hong Kong. They have fewer tools than China to pursue such an agenda (with Australia and New Zealand already having given up on it), and also less ability to lie about their figures (with widespread vaccination, it is far easier to 'hide' the excess deaths resulting from Covid, if so desired).
One direction could lead them to give up on Zero Covid, and ultimately reopen to the West (as well as other Asian nations), which have (to varying degrees) accepted endemicity; and with weakened links to China. The other could lead to them being shut indefinitely, and forever changed if/when they (along with China) finally reopen. My suspicion is that it crucially depends how this phase of their pandemic plays out, and whether they are able to suppress Omicron back to a very low level.
It was notable that, in Jan/Feb 2020, the authorities were significantly backing off various aspects such as extradition; possibly in response to protests but also because of the perception from the West.
Covid has led to Hong Kong becoming far more isolated from the West (and indeed everywhere), and since then tensions have risen once again, with less media coverage (as a proportion of their significance). An effective travel ban with the West has been a key part of this.
In the last few months it has been stated that the intention is to pursue Zero Covid in order to reopen links with China. This could be a very interesting crossroads for Hong Kong. They have fewer tools than China to pursue such an agenda (with Australia and New Zealand already having given up on it), and also less ability to lie about their figures (with widespread vaccination, it is far easier to 'hide' the excess deaths resulting from Covid, if so desired).
One direction could lead them to give up on Zero Covid, and ultimately reopen to the West (as well as other Asian nations), which have (to varying degrees) accepted endemicity; and with weakened links to China. The other could lead to them being shut indefinitely, and forever changed if/when they (along with China) finally reopen. My suspicion is that it crucially depends how this phase of their pandemic plays out, and whether they are able to suppress Omicron back to a very low level.