A person passes by a compound of the electronics producer Foxconn in Shenzhen on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.
AH CHI | Future Publishing | Getty Images
The founding father of China-based Apple provider Foxconn helped persuade the nation’s leaders to loosen the Covid restrictions that led to protests in China, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
In a letter to Chinese leaders despatched over a month in the past, the Journal wrote, Foxconn founder Terry Gou stated China’s zero-Covid coverage threatened its place in international provide chains. He additionally requested for extra transparency about how Foxconn’s staff have been affected by the foundations.
Foxconn’s iPhone plant in Henan province was locked down earlier this fall, proscribing the actions of individuals in an space that was experiencing a Covid outbreak. Some staff tried to flee the plant on foot.
Gou’s letter helped Chinese well being officers and authorities advisors make the case for accelerated easing of Covid restrictions, the Journal reported, citing unnamed sources. The protests that later unfold all through China furthered that case.
Officials who favored a extra lenient method stated that the extremely contagious omicron variant meant lockdowns would turn into extra frequent underneath China’s most restrictive insurance policies whereas unrest over the foundations was mounting.
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy within the U.S., stated in a press release he was “not aware of the specifics” when reached for remark concerning the reported letter.
“The Chinese government puts the people and their life first,” he stated. “We have been improving the COVID response measures in light of the changing circumstances. By making those adjustments in response to the new circumstances and tasks regarding the COVID response, China has shown that its approach is based on facts and responsive to change. We will continue to adopt a science-based and targeted approach and effectively coordinate epidemic response and socioeconomic development.”
Foxconn didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Read the complete story at The Wall Street Journal.
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