For example, Chinese people, armed with blank sheets of paper, demonstrate against the infamous zero-Covid policy

taketonews

Demonstrations against President Xi Jinping’s strict corona policy have been going on for days in various Chinese cities. It is difficult to say how large the demonstrations are, but according to the British broadcaster BBC, thousands of people have taken to the streets in Shanghai. Photo AFPTV/AFP

Many people protest with blank sheets of paper, which has become a symbol for the protest in China. The blank sheets of paper allow protesters to protest without breaking censorship rules. Photo Mark R. Cristinot/EPA

People sing the national anthem during a demonstration against the zero covid policy. Photo Reuters

The cause of the unrest is the fire in an apartment complex in the city of Ürümqi, in the province of Xinjiang. Ten people died in the fire. According to critics, the corona measures made it difficult for emergency services to extinguish the fire, partly because residents were not allowed to leave their homes. The city of more than 3.5 million inhabitants had been in a strict lockdown for 100 days by then. Photo Thomas Peter/Reuters

In China, demonstrations are highly exceptional. Yet there are currently about fifty universities in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan. The police are forcing people to remove images of the demonstrations, but some images are still surfacing on social media. Photo Thomas Peter/Reuters

On Monday, there was a heavy police presence at the main protest site in Shanghai – Wulumuqi Middle Road, where barriers have also been set up. The Chinese government has neither acknowledged nor officially responded to the protests. Photo Mark R. Cristino/EPA

People are frustrated with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s zero-covid policy. Some protesters demand that he resign. Photo Thomas Peter/Reuters

At the beginning of November, China’s infamous zero-covid policy was relaxed slightly: the mandatory quarantine period of incoming travelers and close contacts of people who tested positive were shortened by two days from seven to five. But the moment when Chinese society will reopen seems a long way off. Photo Noel Celis/AFP

Several people were arrested during the demonstrations. BBC journalist Ed Lawrence was also arrested in Shanghai when he reported on the corona protests, where he was kicked and beaten. Lawrence was released several hours later. The BBC writes in a statement that it is “particularly disturbing that one of our journalists has been attacked in the line of duty”. Photo Hector Retamal/AFP

Hundreds of protesters were chased away by the police with the use of pepper spray and violence. Photo Andy Wong/AP

It has now been announced in the city of Ürümqi that the corona measures will be relaxed. From Tuesday, residents of the city will only be allowed to travel by bus to do their shopping in their own neighborhood. Photo Thomas Peter/AP

Police crack down on demonstrators during a demonstration at the memorial for the victims of the fire in Ürümqi. Photo Reuters

Police in Shanghai arrested several people on Monday at the site of protests for two nights in a row. Photo Thomas Peter/Reuters

People gather in Beijing to remember the victims of the Ürümqi fire. Photo Thomas Peter/Reuters

ttn-32