Monday 28 November 2022 03:05 PM WH condemns China's protest crackdown, says it will be 'difficult' for 'Zero ... trends now

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The White House condemned China for stifling people protesting their new 'Zero COVID' policies and insisted the U.S. will not be pursuing this option.

A statement Monday from the president's National Security Council insisted China's policies will not be successful in 'containing this virus'.

The NSC spokesperson continued to push vaccines and boosters for Americans in the statement.

The Chinese Communist Party is imposing some of the world's strictest COVID measures under a policy known as 'Zero COVID', which includes mass lockdowns, quarantines or isolations and widespread testing in areas where cases are reported.

This has led to tens of millions of people being forced to live under some kind of lockdown.

'We've said that zero COVID is not a policy we pursuing (sic) here in the United States,' the NSC spokesperson said. 'And as we've said, we think it's going to be very difficult for the People's Republic of China to be able to contain this virus through their zero COVID strategy.'

They also bashed China for stifling protesters who oppose the strict rules.

'We've long said everyone has the right to peacefully protest, here in the United States and around the world,' they wrote. This includes in the PRC.'

The individual said that U.S. efforts to contain and stop the spread of coronavirus are still focused on getting all Americans vaccinated and boosted – as well as keeping testing and treatment widely accessible.

'For us, we are focused on what works and that means using the public health tools like: continuing to enhance vaccination rates, including boosters and making testing and treatment easily accessible,' the spokesperson said.

Several major Chinese cities including Shanghai and the capital of Beijing have been rocked by protests in recent days.