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In China, anger about the government’s impotence against the corona policy is increasing. The country’s leadership around Head of State Xi Jinping has been pursuing a strict zero-Covid policy since the outbreak of the corona pandemic – accompanied by repression and massive restrictions on the civilian population. There were even reports that people had lost access to food because they had to self-isolate.

Despite the rigorous crackdown on the virus, billions of people are currently being hit by the worst corona wave since the start of the pandemic almost three years ago. The Health Commission reported a record high in the country on Monday with around 40,000 new infections. In Beijing, there were nearly 3,900 cases. Each infection leads to entire residential areas being cordoned off and all infected being taken to quarantine hospitals. While the rest of the world lives with the virus, China is sticking to its strategy. Even after almost three years of the pandemic, borders are largely closed.

After the population endured the strict measures more or less without resistance for a long time, protests have increased in recent days, with open demonstrations against Xi Jinping and the zero-Covid policy.

The workers’ revolt in the iPhone factory

Protests in what is still the world’s most populous country gained momentum last week. At the world’s largest Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou, hundreds of workers protested conditions at the factory.

This protest also had to do with the corona virus and the associated measures: Foxconn had noticed a strong increase in infections in the factory, which is why the Taiwanese company closed the factory. As early as October, many employees fled the site on foot because the conditions were appalling.

The fire in Urumqi

The weekend’s protests were then amplified by a fire in the town of Ürümqi in Xinjiang province. At least ten people were killed and nine others injured.

A number of local residents criticized on social networks that the strict corona measures had made fighting the fire more difficult. Residents had been made more difficult to escape through locked apartment doors.

The protests in Shanghai and Beijing

The incident then drove people onto the streets, first in the major cities of Shanghai and Beijing. In Shanghai, several hundred people, mainly young people, demonstrated against the strict corona measures. Videos from there, which circulated on the Internet despite state censorship, included slogans such as “Down with the Communist Party! Down with Xi Jinping!” listen.

People also took to the streets in the capital Beijing, for example on the campus of Tsinghua University – the alma mater of Xi Jinping. Several hundred students gathered there on Sunday. Videos showed them holding up blank sheets of paper in protest at the state’s repression of critical voices.

Elsewhere in Beijing, residents in several neighborhoods broke through fences in their apartment buildings and called for an end to lockdowns.

The protests are spreading to other cities

After the protests in the major cities of Shanghai and Beijing, people also took to the streets in other metropolises such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Ürümqi – naturally encouraged by the previous rallies. The demonstrations continued in many cities until Monday evening.

As a symbol of resistance and protest against censorship, many protesters held up blank white paper. Slogans like “Unlock the lockdown” and “We don’t want PCR tests, we want freedom” were shouted.

The authorities reacted repressively and arrested numerous people. It is not clear how many people have been arrested. There is a virtual blackout on news in China.

The violent arrest of a BBC reporter

As a result, foreigners also felt the harsh treatment of the Chinese authorities. BBC reporter Ed Lawrence was arrested in Shanghai and said he was beaten by police officers. Lawrence had covered and filmed the anti-government protests.

“The BBC is deeply concerned about the treatment of our journalist Ed Lawrence, who was arrested and handcuffed while covering the Shanghai protests,” said a British broadcaster spokesman.

Lawrence was beaten and kicked by police officers upon his arrest, even though he has a license as a journalist. He was not released until hours later.

RTS correspondent briefly arrested

Swiss journalist Michael Peuker, who works for RTS, did slightly better than BBC correspondent Lawrence. He was also briefly arrested, but without being assaulted. In addition, he was soon released.

Peuker also reported on the local protests and would describe the situation live on television. It was immediately clear that something was not normal. Even while the presenter was speaking in the studio, you could see Peuker gesturing and talking to people on his right. And when his colleague then gave him the floor, Peuker explained that he would probably be arrested by the emergency services – which happened then.

According to experts, a fifth of the second largest economy and therefore hundreds of millions of people across the country are likely to be affected by lockdowns. Many companies are reaching their limits. In particular, salaried and migrant workers often have to accept painful pay cuts. However, it is unclear whether the protests will continue despite the massive crackdown by the authorities. (con/sda)