This seems very uncharacteristic of China. The residents of Beijing have been told by the government for years that if you don't absolutely need to be outside, then don't go outside. This is the first I've heard of China putting anything before growth.
Unrelated, but this gives me hope that they might crack down on counterfeiting soon.
Weak citizens dying of air pollution quickly and being replaced by healthy strong new recruits from the hundreds of millions living in the China villages.
Very similar the recipe for big cities in Europe before the industrial revolution. There was no canalization, food had to be brought on horse cars without refrigerators from vast areas, making it decay. A dozen people per room, resulting in fast spreading of viruses and bacteria.
Every year they also tell us how they are getting rid of coal, or how they got rid of it already wishing the city. Every single year, it is the same story, actually.
Who cares about counterfeiting, I just want clean air.
Unrelated, but this gives me hope that they might crack down on counterfeiting soon.