Premier Su Tseng-chang said on Sunday that China’s lockdowns to combat the spread of COVID-19 are “cruel,” and that Taiwan will not follow suit.

Taiwan has been grappling with an increase in domestic illnesses caused by the Omicron variety since the beginning of this year, after successfully controlling the pandemic with strict border controls and quarantines.

The government has sought to loosen restrictions as it seeks normalcy and progressively reopens the island of 23 million people to the outside world, with more than 99 percent of those affected having minor or no symptoms, a handful of deaths so far, and high immunization levels.

In contrast, Taiwan’s massive neighbour China has imposed strict curfews in Shanghai and strengthened regulations in Beijing.

Su stated their pandemic-containment procedures have been “praised by the globe” during a visit to Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control.

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