Explained: The challenge before China’s Xi Jinping as rare lockdown protests spread
Explained: The challenge before China’s Xi Jinping as rare lockdown protests spread
It’s unusual to protest in China. It’s even more unprecedented for these protests to spread.
The demonstrations against the country’s oppressive zero-COVID policy erupted over the weekend and have flared up. Protesters are demanding freedom and democracy. The anger is palpable in Beijing, Shanghai and other major cities. Universities in Nanjing, Chengdu, Wuhan, where the novel coronavirus was first detected, are among other places where people are seen raising their voices against the excesses of the Communist Party regime.
Protests in China are not rare. What *is* rare, are multiple protests over the same issue, at the same time, across the country. The protest below, apparently in central Beijing’s liangmaqiao, is astounding #China #protests pic.twitter.com/UHJCqqF1YG
— Tom Mackenzie (@TomMackenzieTV) November 27, 2022
Why did the protests erupt?
A deadly fire, which claimed 10 lives and left nine injured last Thursday, in Urumqi, the capital of the far-western region of Xinjiang triggered the protest. Locals allege that the lockdown hampered the rescue operations. However, authorities have denied the claim.
There are videos of the screams of the families burning in that building in Urumqi. This is the spark that lit the fuse of the protests across China
"Open the doors! Open the doors! Save us!"
Even children were killed pic.twitter.com/cTSt6F5yXc
— Jack Posobiec
What's Your Reaction?
