'Chinese-style coexistence' with virus

China should aim to coexist with the virus and could move away from its zero-Covid strategy "in the near future," a top Chinese scientist says in a possible sign that the country's leadership is rethinking its strict approach.

The mainland is one of the last places still clinging to a zero-tolerance approach. But fatigue over disruptions to everyday life as well as semi-autonomous Hong Kong's struggle to contain a mass outbreak have raised questions about its sustainability.

China's strategy cannot "remain unchanged forever" and "it is the long-term goal of humanity to coexist with the virus" at tolerable death and illness rates, Zeng Guang wrote on Weibo.

Zeng is the former chief scientist of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention and one of the experts behind the country's initial Covid response. Zeng said while China's approach had prevented the early chaos experienced by many Western countries, its low infection rate was now a "soft spot" as far fewer people had built up natural immunity.

He said Western countries are now showing "commendable courage" in exploring how to live with the virus and that China should "observe and learn" even though there is still "no need to open the country's doors at the peak of the global pandemic."

Zeng added: "In the near future, at the right time, the roadmap for Chinese-style coexistence with the virus should be presented."

Experts who previously questioned "zero Covid" have faced a backlash, including prominent scientist Zhang Wenhong, who was probed for plagiarism after a similar Weibo post in July.

Zeng's post attracted only a few thousand responses. His comments come after authorities said last month that they would crack down on "excessive" curbs by local governments, including arbitrary quarantines and business shutdowns.