By Peter McLaren-Kennedy • Published: 29 Nov 2022 • 8:47
China quarantine camps - Credit NEXTA screen grab
The protest which started out a few days ago was originally aimed at authorities enforcing the zero-tolerance COVID-19 policy, have turned violent and increasingly anti-government.
Footage showing the dissent has flooded social media platforms and news sites, resulting in protests popping up all over the world. As a result, authorities have resorted to numerous different tactics to try and limit coverage.
VIDEO: A Chinese police patrol orders people to delete content on their smartphones on Urumqi street in downtown Shanghai. Demonstrators gathered in the area at the weekend to protest against Covid-19 lockdowns and call for greater political freedoms pic.twitter.com/Qr1j3qAK4V — AFP News Agency (@AFP) November 29, 2022
VIDEO: A Chinese police patrol orders people to delete content on their smartphones on Urumqi street in downtown Shanghai.
Demonstrators gathered in the area at the weekend to protest against Covid-19 lockdowns and call for greater political freedoms pic.twitter.com/Qr1j3qAK4V
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) November 29, 2022
According to news site The Insider, television coverage of the football has been altered to give the impression that it is not just in China where the draconian anti-coronavirus measures are in place.
Scenes that would show the fans in the stadium are said to be replaced by shots of the players and the bench.
There are also reports that the government is flooding online networks with soft porn as it tries to placate and distract locals who have taken to the streets to vent their anger.
Chinese bots spammed Twitter with porn, which buried news about COVID-19 protests in China, report says https://t.co/J4tgj8t7gw — Insider Business (@BusinessInsider) November 28, 2022
Chinese bots spammed Twitter with porn, which buried news about COVID-19 protests in China, report says https://t.co/J4tgj8t7gw
— Insider Business (@BusinessInsider) November 28, 2022
Such protests are rare in China and are generally dealt with swiftly and with force, but the authorities have been overwhelmed by the sheer number of protestors and the strength of feeling over the issue.
Some cities have opted to reduce the number of restrictions; however, the move has had little effect on the overall mood.
Protests over the policy are not new but recent events that led to the death of ten people in their apartment has resulted in growing anger and clashes between citizens and authorities.
The weekend’s protests were different in that they for the first time showed dissent towards President Xi Jinping, who was only weeks ago elected for a third term in office. Until now considered untouchable and in full control of the country and the ruling elite, the weekends protests will be a cause for concern in the halls of power.
According to the BBC police officers, private security guards and plain-clothed police officers have been on the streets confronting protesters. After they were moved on protestors reappeared later in the day in a silent protest holding blank pieces of paper in front of their faces.
One protester told the BBC that he felt “shocked and a bit excited” to see people out on the streets. He said it is the first time he’d seen such large-scale dissent in China, with people openly calling for Xi to stand down and the Communist Party to go.
The protestor continued saying the lockdowns made him feel “sad, angry and hopeless.”
Protesters call for China President Xi to resign as demonstrations over Covid restrictions intensifyhttps://t.co/G6nyw0LPQg pic.twitter.com/2ZVJxm0iIt — BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) November 27, 2022
Protesters call for China President Xi to resign as demonstrations over Covid restrictions intensifyhttps://t.co/G6nyw0LPQg pic.twitter.com/2ZVJxm0iIt
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) November 27, 2022
That view is reiterated by many protestors who have not been allowed to continue their life as normal, to continue their work, to attend doctors’ appointments or to visit relatives.
Some relaxation of the policy has taken place in areas but with millions of people effectively remaining “locked up,” protests could continue into the week resulting in further confrontations with authorities who up until now have acted with restraint.
A recent fire in a high-rise block which residents weren’t allowed to leave due to COVID-19 restrictions has prompted locals to take to the street blaming the zero-tolerance policy for their deaths.
State media has however, disputed the story saying that the area was not under quarantine and people were able to leave the building. But few seem to believe the view of events as they worry about their own safety during the draconian lockdowns.
The footage posted by the BBC online shows large crowds involved in heated discussions with officials in increasingly acrimonious exchanges.
Footage is provided by the BBC.
Covid protests in Chinese city after deadly fire https://t.co/QVt1wtdLTd pic.twitter.com/VMbqgRUscZ — BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) November 26, 2022
Covid protests in Chinese city after deadly fire https://t.co/QVt1wtdLTd pic.twitter.com/VMbqgRUscZ
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) November 26, 2022
In Zhengzhou alone more than six million people have been forced to stay indoors according to AFP News on Friday, November 25. The city, home to the world’s largest iPhone factory, has barricaded in residents in eight districts forcing them to remain at home for the next five days.
The lock up comes after a few cases of the virus were recorded in what experts say is a draconian and unnecessary reaction.
One of the most underreported stories right now is China’s failing Zero-Covid policy. Cases have surged to record-high levels (30 000 daily cases) & 420 mln people are back in lockdown This violent protest is from the Foxconn iPhone factory in Zhengzhoupic.twitter.com/BbaskNWdce — Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 24, 2022
One of the most underreported stories right now is China’s failing Zero-Covid policy.
Cases have surged to record-high levels (30 000 daily cases) & 420 mln people are back in lockdown
This violent protest is from the Foxconn iPhone factory in Zhengzhoupic.twitter.com/BbaskNWdce
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 24, 2022
To make matters worse people have died either as a result of not being allowed to visit the hospital for other ailments, or in fires that have ravaged buildings. According to the South China Morning Post at least ten people have lost their lives in a building fire during the lockdown.
Authorities are said to be going further with the country building quarantine camps where those that test positive will be sent, away from their homes, their work and their families.
For the second day in a row, China has recorded an explosive increase in coronavirus infections. In the city of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, which has the largest number of cases, the construction of a quarantine center for 80,000 people has begun. pic.twitter.com/LnOZdVdVjO — NEXTA (@nexta_tv) November 25, 2022
For the second day in a row, China has recorded an explosive increase in coronavirus infections.
In the city of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, which has the largest number of cases, the construction of a quarantine center for 80,000 people has begun. pic.twitter.com/LnOZdVdVjO
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) November 25, 2022
The government policy which compels local authorities to impose gruelling lockdowns, travel restrictions and mass testing has raised tensions in the country considerably. It has also hit the economy and has created supply issues across the world.
China’s positive infections is at an all-time high of 33,000 in a country of 1.4 billion, whereas the UK recorded 19,386 over the last seven days in a country of less than 70 million people.
Protests against China's zero-Covid lockdown in Guangzhou.@disclosetvProteste gegen Chinas Null-Covid-Abriegelung in Guangzhou.1/2 pic.twitter.com/jdqvvjEp88 — Don_Virus (@Don_Virus_1) November 25, 2022
Protests against China's zero-Covid lockdown in Guangzhou.@disclosetvProteste gegen Chinas Null-Covid-Abriegelung in Guangzhou.1/2 pic.twitter.com/jdqvvjEp88
— Don_Virus (@Don_Virus_1) November 25, 2022
China builds quarantine camps as zero tolerance COVID-19 policy leads to violent clashes and deaths, whilst in the rest of the world the approach is to manage the virus through self-isolation and vaccination.
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Originally from South Africa, Peter is based on the Costa Blanca and is a web reporter for the Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.
FREEDOM to the brave people fighting for their lives because what we see in China is going to come to Europe 2023.
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