The latest policies from Beijing show that the Chinese government is readying its own new vaccines and drugs for COVID-19 in a bid to gradually ease some of the strictest pandemic restrictions globally, but progress is mixed and domestic reported infections are surging to their highest level since March 2020.

In a surprise move, China has conditionally approved Pfizer’s oral COVID-19 antiviral Paxlovid, a development that may have far-reaching consequences for the country's pandemic policies and domestic drug developers. 

The Beijing Winter Olympics highlight a changing China that is becoming more confident and confrontational in its policies, although a willingness to challenge international rules could potentially stall the further introductions of novel vaccines and treatments at a critical juncture of the pandemic.

Amid China’s increasingly inward-looking and dual circulation economic policies, the Beijing Winter Olympics provide rare insight into policymakers’ handling of a global event.