Massive protests have broken out in major Chinese cities protesting the Covid-free policy. Below are the main reasons for the unusual public outcry against the Chinese government.
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Saumya Updated: November 28, 2022 15:52 IST
The main reasons why large-scale protests broke out in China over the Covid-free policy
In an expression of populist rage against the Chinese government, hundreds of people took to the streets of China’s biggest cities on Sunday to protest the country’s strict Covid-free policy.
The protest has expanded to many cities, including Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Wuhan. Hundreds of protesters and police were involved in violent clashes in Shanghai.
Protests flared up after a deadly apartment fire broke out in the country’s far west a few days ago.
China 🇨🇳
Protests are erupting across China as people have had enough of the draconian zero Covid lockdown. This is what ultimately happens when people’s power is mobilized against oppressive governments that strip people of freedom and dignity. pic.twitter.com/NsZgZTxEYT
— James Melville (@JamesMelville)
November 27, 2022
The main reasons behind the protests in China
- On Sunday, China reported a record high number of Covid-19 cases—39,506. Xi Jinping’s government has maintained a strict Covid-free policy, due to which many lockdowns have been imposed in cities across the country due to the increasing number of Covid cases. The State Government has argued that the measure is both life-saving and necessary to keep the healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed.
- The public is becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the zero-tolerance, zero-Covid policy as they grow weary of sudden lockdowns, lengthy quarantines and widespread testing campaigns.
- Protests erupted Friday in Urumqi, the regional capital of the remote Xinjiang region, after a video of a residential building fire that killed at least 10 people a day earlier suggested the restrictions The lockdown was the reason behind the delayed rescue efforts.
- Public outrage, which reached an all-time high just over a month after Xi Jinping was elected to a third term as President of China, erupted after the fire.
- In various videos shot at protest sites, slogans such as “down with Xi Jinping” and “lift the blockade” can be heard during what initially started as a vigil by candlelight to support the victims in Urumqi. Graffiti on the walls of the university was also captured on camera in photos and videos; these walls were later repainted.
Protest timeline
- A candlelight vigil commemorating the victims of an apartment fire in Shanghai on Saturday escalated into a protest against Covid restrictions, with protesters demanding the lockdown be lifted .
- A day later, hundreds of protesters were violent with police, calling the Covid policy “a game”, insisting that the Xinjiang apartment fire had pushed them too far and demanding their basic rights. human.
- At the same location, protesters gathered to march carrying flowers and white pieces of paper.
- At least 1,000 protesters from two separate groups gathered along Beijing’s Third Ring Road near the Liangma River early Monday and refused to disperse.
- Students from Beijing’s top Tsinghua University also marched against lockdown and zero-tolerance policies, waving banners with mathematical equations in place of slogans.
上海乌鲁木齐路 民众高喊共产党 下台!这是迄今为止最为激进的口号。 pic.twitter.com/ijP7lxnIgH
— 李老师不是你老师 (@whyyoutouzhele)
November 26, 2022
In Shanghai and other areas where protests occurred, the police remained a visible presence. Soon after videos of the protests began circulating, authorities also blocked online discussions about the protests by removing words related to it from weibo.
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Source: pagasa.edu.vn