China has once again hit the headlines as the government's controversial zero-Covid policy continues to restrict the movement of millions, sparking mass protests across the country.
The catalyst for the demonstrations was a fire that broke out in an apartment in the western province of Xinjiang, killing at least 10 people. Many say the death toll is much higher than official figures and blame the fatalities on the country's prolonged Covid measures, though the authorities deny this.
At the moment, President Xi Jinping is holding firm to the strict policy, but many experts are beginning to question whether he needs to change tack lest his grip on power weakens further, particularly as disapproval of his leadership spreads.
