My guess is there's too much money on the table for those in the western establishment (corporate media and government) to call a spade a spade. If official criticism of China becomes too strong then the public might start asking for the sort of economic sanctions that would hurt western business interests as well. Basically, a manifestation of that old theory about international trade preempting wars.

Some in the west certainly have labelled it that. There's quite a number of humanitarian crises going on at the moment, as have been over the past few years (and basically forever). Western leaders don't get up in the morning and recite lists of them.

Because it's not a humanitarian crisis?

It's one form of response to a deadly disease.

If people were literally starving in the streets, then yes, but that's not what's happening.

It's 'very authoritarian' - but we already all know that.

Because "it's for covid", and our illustrious western leaders are either covid maximalists or focused on Ukraine.

The lockdowns might be useful from a strategic perspective for western leaders (ie undermining faith in Chinese leadership within Shanghai residents), while also actively calling it a humanitarian crisis would hurt the relationship with China which is already extremely fragile because of Russia/Ukraine (ie official criticism of the Chinese government may result in additional support for Russia).

> an event or events that threaten the health, safety or wellbeing of a large group of people

In a despotic country that could be a constant thing.