Outrages of opposition are not uncommon in China.
Over the years, sudden outbursts of local protests have been triggered across the country on issues ranging from toxic pollution to illegal land grabs and police mistreatment of a community member.
But this time it’s different.
There is one issue that is on the minds of the Chinese people and that many of them are increasingly fed up with – which is causing a widespread backlash against the strict restrictions imposed by the government’s zero covid policy.
This has been reflected in residents breaking down barriers set up to enforce social distancing, and mass protests are now pouring in on the streets and university campuses of cities across the country.
On the one hand, it’s hard to explain how shocking it was when a crowd in Shanghai demanded the resignation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
It is extremely dangerous to publicly criticize the General Secretary of the Communist Party here. You risk being arrested.
Yet there they were on the street in Shanghai (Wulumuqi Lu), named after the city of Xinjiang, where a fire killed 10 residents – many believe that the restrictions imposed by the zero covid-zero policy are hampering rescue efforts.
A protester shouted, “Xi Jinping!” she shouts.
And hundreds of people shouted, “Resign!” gives the answer.
Then the protest cry echoed: “Xi Jinping! Resign! Xi Jinping! Resign!”
The chorus could also be heard: “Communist Party! Resign! Communist Party! Resign!”
For a political organization whose main aim is to stay in power, this is the biggest challenge that can happen.
The government seems to have greatly underestimated the population’s growing discontent with the zero-covid policy – it is inextricably linked with Xi Jinping, who recently promised no deviations from the policy.
Moreover, there is no easy way out of the Party’s depression.
They had three years to prepare for an eventual reopening, but instead of building more intensive care units (ICUs) in hospitals and emphasizing the need for vaccines, they’ve invested huge resources in mass testing, quarantines and isolation facilities designed to win. Fight against a virus that never goes away.
– This text was published at https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/internacional-63779061.
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.