Raging Protests โ Chinese Citizens Express Their Anger to Protocols
Two months away from marking its three-year anniversary, the Covid-19 pandemic has yet to be finished marking its woes across the country of China. During the end of their fall season, Covid-related infections have surged which has prompted the Chinese government to enact a strict zero-Covid policy that has left citizens in unrest. Throughout Beijing, Shanghai, and in the Wuhan province, hundreds of protesters have covered the streets in defiance of their governmentโs persisting lockdown policies. These said policies have come at great costs, contributing heavily to Chinaโs social and economic issues. Throughout Chinaโs second quarter, GDP growth had fallen to 0.4%, a level not seen for 30 years since 1992. Youth unemployment in China has risen to almost 20%, up from 9% in 2002.
The spark that ignited these protests began three days ago when a building fire killed 10 people in a city named Urumqi, an area that has been under lockdown for almost 100 days. The vigil held to remember the unfortunate citizens who lost their lives turned into a public protest, which has now spanned several days across universities and major cities in the country. This has also not been the first recent major act of defiance seen in the communist state. Just one month ago, videos were captured that depicted a banner across a Beijing highway opposing Chinese leader Xi Jinping, just after his reappointment for a third consecutive term. Now, thousands can be heard across the country chanting in unison, holding signs and posters in dissent of Xi’s reign and his restraining policies. As 40,000 new Covid cases were reported on Saturday, more control and insubordination will continue to cause what has been referred to as the largest mass protest since Tiananmen Square in 1989.
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