What's unclear is your use of the word "rational". It appears you are using that word to mean "actions that are in accordance with values I approve of" instead

What's unclear is your use of the word "rational". It appears you are using that word to mean "actions that are in accordance with values I approve of" instead of its common meaning which is more along the lines of "actions that are consistent with ones reasons". As long as the CCP behaves in a way that is consistent with its own system of reasoning, the CCP is behaving rationally. You may disagree with their reasons, and their reasons may even be immoral, but on the whole I wouldn't say the CCP are doing anything particularly irrational. A few simple tests to determine if someone is behaving rationally is whether their actions are predictable and consistent. Given that their stance on COVID has been very consistent the past two years, it's not accurate to call them irrational about it.