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| See also: | Other events of 2021 History of China • Timeline • Years | ||||
In 2021, China continued to address the COVID-19 pandemic in China with a Zero-COVID policy that significantly reduced transmission of COVID-19 through large scale lockdowns and testing.[1] The Convidecia and Sinopharm vaccines were approved for general use in China in February 2021.[2] China achieved a record number of 55 space missions in 2021,[3] including the development of the Tiangong space station[4] and the first Chinese craft to land on Mars.[5] Concerns about declining birth rates caused the national government to replace its two-child policy with a three-child policy in May 2021.[6] In the Chinese zodiac, 2021 was the year of the Ox and associated with the Wuxing element of metal.[7]
Long standing territorial disputes continued in China. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea led to a diplomatic incident with the Philippines in April 2021.[8] Disputes over the recognition of Taiwan included the possibility of Lithuanian recognition of Taiwan, leading to a diplomatic crisis in August 2021.[9] Other diplomatic disputes included the East China Sea EEZ disputes,[10] skirmishes with India along the China–India border,[11] and the continuing trade war with the United States.[12] China strengthened its relations with Afghanistan,[13] Iran,[14] and Russia[15] in 2021.
A wave of political reforms continued in 2021, applying restrictions or bans to cryptocurrency,[16] skyscrapers,[17] private tutoring,[18] celebrity gossip,[19] and video games.[20] Tech companies were placed under increased scrutiny by the Chinese government in 2021.[21] Anti-monopoly measures were carried out,[22][23] and several major companies saw significant penalties throughout the year.[24] A property sector crisis affecting companies such as the Evergrande Group in 2021 prompted economic troubles in China.[25] Political reforms in Hong Kong restricted democracy and limited elections to candidates approved by the Chinese Communist Party.[26] Pro-democracy newspapers and groups in Hong Kong were also shut down.[27][28] Alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang continued, including accusations of genocide.[29]
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