RE: Chinese government should have ended the lockdowns long ago, now will appear weak....
Admit I’m guilty in advance. Regardless of it being a cruel stereotype, I have found many instances in my own life and in reading history in which the Chinese often (not always) stick to a stubbornly held opinion or policy and expect “negotiations” to mean the other guys eventually will have to give in to them.
Silly example: I used to especially love the egg drop soup at a certain Chinese restaurant. When one cook happened to be working he put a lot of black pepper in, but the others didn’t. I asked the waitress if someone could ask the cook not to use it because I really don’t like black pepper. She said it would do not good as he likes black pepper personally and won’t change and he’s been a cook for years. My suggestion the customers could add it from the table shakers was rejected.
Another: Different Chinese restaurant offered excellent Chicken with Garlic and Ginger, but I had to ask for light spice version. Still got extremely spicy one. The waiter said “When the owner is here she insists on the way she likes it, very spicy, regardless of the customers. She refuses to change.”
Last one. Student assistant from China was trained in various tasks but then did it all his favorite way. Eventually was let go. Had argued with the boss that the young assistant’s way was superior.
I have a generation zero Chinese wife. I have never been able to modify her techniques or behavior. She tells me that “This is the way it is done”.