The CCP's response is hard to fathom. Zero tolerance for Covid seems impossible to achieve - so why are they doubling down?

Possible answer: they're prepping

Disentanglement from the world in readiness for sanctions when they invade Taiwan. Pulling up the drawbridges.

One thing i'm sure as hell about is that the West is not ready for what that disentanglement will look like - but maybe the CCP management is - or is getting ready for it. Who can keep their population under control the best when the shit hits the supply-chain fan?

It's not gonna be like Russia sanctions where the price of oil goes up, but not much else impact abroad - coz there's no where near the volume of trade with the West that China has. We're talking shelves emptying of everyday items overnight.

That's if it's only a sanction war response like Ukraine. If it's shooting war then the internet and electricity are likely going out for extended periods.