Hi everyone!
You may know that China is one of the most regulated countries on Earth. This is most apparent when you look at their extremely strict response to COVID-19. New York Times video footage revealed the extent to which Chinese authorities have gone to limit the spread and death toll of the pandemic. If you fail to comply with mask mandates or lockdown orders, the punishment can be public shaming or jail time. If you catch the virus, you are immediately restricted to a certain area often no larger than a tarp, where you must wear a full hazmat suit and never cross the caution tape. Your entire family will be examined, as will your neighbors, friends, and anyone who’s been in the same public space as you. Officials even used to search “contacts of contacts” before this was struck down. Chinese authorities will even separate families if it means limiting the virus. One particularly saddening instance was when a school was placed under full lockdown due to an outbreak – no kids could leave or enter, and speaking to parents was difficult. Kids made signs to put in front of windows to tell everyone they were okay.
While this strong response was initially praised by the world for its success – and indeed, it likely reduced the death toll for the nation – it is now seeming increasingly outdated. China remains under full COVID policy, while thousands of people have gone without masks to the World Cup. However, China has defended their “zero COVID” policies, arguing that they are necessary to prevent the mass deaths we’ve seen in countries like the United States. While they’ve promised some minor scale-backs, the Chinese have made clear that they will stay on their current course. Plus, since China has very strict control of its people and what they see and read, officials have had little to fear concerning public unrest.
Until now.
The protests began when a fire erupted in an apartment building in western China, killing 10 people and injuring many more. People were enraged when footage showed that COVID mandates may have delayed firefighters’ response to the blaze. In an exceptionally rare instance of Chinese unrest, hundreds of people took to the streets in opposition to Chinese coronavirus restrictions. They called for the government to “lift the lockdown,” and some have even urged for the ousting of the administration – Xi Jinping does not hold high popularity in China. Chinese authorities have responded with characteristic toughness, cracking down on protests by increasing police presence and online censorship. Multiple incidents have been documented in which unarmed protestors are escorted away by law enforcement. One such detainee was only carrying a bouquet of flowers. Local Chinese government has said they will lift restrictions “in stages,” but have provided no clear timeframe.
For now, the future of the protests remains uncertain, but one thing is clear:
The cracks are showing in China's iron grip.