The sudden end of zero-Covid was a relief for many China specialists. After three grueling years of lockdown, it was finally possible to work on the ground in China again. But this was not the case for Mikko Huotari, Director of the leading German China think tank Merics. In 2021, his institute became one of four „entities“ sanctioned by Beijing with an entry ban that remains in effect to this day: „Unfortunately, it is not foreseeable when our staff will be able to travel to China again.“