They have a population decline problem. 1 child policy was also anti-female. So they have the cultural revolution boomers retiring and the 15-19 year old group

They have a population decline problem. 1 child policy was also anti-female. So they have the cultural revolution boomers retiring and the 15-19 year old group is tiny. Even if they allow down to age 4, they are at a net loss for productivity. It also comes at a period of time where they haven't quite done enough for the development and may fall short of the threshold. zero-covid on the otherhand is trying to make sure nobody young dies.