In China, there have been clashes with security forces during demonstrations against the strict corona measures and thus also against the government. The protests, which have flared up again and again for three days, spread to several cities on Sunday. “Down with the Chinese Communist Party, down with Xi Jinping,” shouted a group in the financial metropolis of Shanghai, according to eyewitnesses and, as was also seen on videos, looking at the president. Archyde.com could not independently review the footage.
Public protests against the government and President Xi are rare in China. Early Sunday evening, demonstrators in Shanghai held up white sheets of paper as a sign against censorship. As early as Saturday evening, people took to the streets to vent their displeasure. At first it was a vigil for ten people who died in a high-rise fire in Urumqi. But over the course of the night, this turned into protests.
Die Null-Covid-Politics
China is pursuing a zero-Covid policy, which entails far-reaching lockdown measures. The rise in the number of infections makes it less likely that China will ease its strict policy any time soon. On Sunday, the authorities reported almost 40,000 new infections. The lockdowns and the global economic downturn are slowing down the second largest economy in the world. From January to October, industrial profits fell by three percent compared to the previous year, according to data from the national statistical office. The risk of a recession in the global economy has increased and companies are increasingly under pressure, it said.
Protest on Tsinghua campus. This is very rare after 1989. pic.twitter.com/4Yzt0YgG7m
— Yang Zhang (@ProfYangZhang) November 27, 2022
People are less and less willing to bow to the measures, and unrest breaks out. In Urumqi, capital of western China’s Xinjiang region, there were protests on Friday. One of the longest lockdowns was imposed there: Many of the four million inhabitants are not allowed to leave their homes for up to 100 days. A fire in a high-rise building killed ten people on Thursday. The view spread on social networks that the building was partially locked and therefore many residents did not make it out in time. Vigils were also held in other cities, including the universities of Nanjing and Beijing.
Beijing tonight, right now. Beijing Capital Club, a landmark 5-star mansion on the third ring road, kilometers away from Liang Ma Qiao. Ppl chanting “Don’t lie, want dignity” which means we don’t want lies, we want dignity. It’s happening right now! pic.twitter.com/15twpkPS1W
— Vivian Wu (@vivianwubeijing) November 27, 2022
Videos in Shanghai showed people shouting “serve the people” or “we want freedom”. In the spring, the city with its 25 million inhabitants was strictly sealed off for two months. At that time there had already been rare protests. “I’m here for freedom. Winter is coming. We need our freedom,” a protester told Archyde.com news agency.
In view of the increasing corona numbers, observers believe that China is in a dead end. The Health Commission justifies itself by saying that opening would result in many deaths. Doctors also warn that the health system would be hopelessly overwhelmed should the virus spread freely. But the anger is growing among the population. The new Omicron variants, which spread more easily, are blamed for the rapid increase.
The government has also come under criticism as it is clear that since the end of 2019 the authorities have used most of their capacity for constant mass testing and lockdowns. Preparations for a way out of the pandemic were not made sufficiently. The vaccination rate for the population is around 90 percent, but there are significant vaccination gaps among the elderly: only 40 percent of people over 80 have received two vaccinations and a booster so far. (apa/reuters)