Covid and his administration has held firm, even as public anger and economic costs mount. “Prevention and control work cannot be relaxed," Xi said during a trip to the island province of Hainan, the official Xinhua News Agency reported last week.
Many factories across China’s electronics manufacturing hubs of Shanghai, Kunshan and Suzhou have either halted operations completely or are only able to maintain partial production due to stringent restrictions on personnel movement and logistics.
Tesla Inc., iPhone assembler Pegatron Corp., Apple laptop maker Quanta Computer Inc. and many other electronics parts makers were forced to pause production, causing ripples of disruption beyond China’s borders.
Japan’s Mazda Motor Corp. said last week it will suspend production at two domestic factories for a second time because of supply challenges caused by China’s virus outbreak.