With much of China battling a severe COVID-19 outbreak, a kind of medication has risen to coveted status—Paxlovid, an antiviral made by Pfizer.
Beijing is now restricting imports of COVID-19 medicines despite the infection surge.
As the unprecedented virus wave strips resources and citizens struggle to access medication, China’s elites and officials are stockpiling supplies of Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill.
Only to give it away to curry favor with business associates.