Massive police presence in several Chinese cities after the weekend of riots prevented a possible resurgence of protests against the government’s harsh zero-Covid policy. Security forces have been on the streets since Monday in the capital Beijing and in metropolises such as Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hangzhou. Passers-by were often stopped, had to identify themselves and show their mobile phone. Another measure announced by the Chinese government is to speed up vaccination campaigns for the elderly.
“We need to speed up vaccination against Covid-19, especially among the elderly,” Mi Feng, a Beijing Health Commission spokesman, said on Tuesday. Currently, only about 40 percent of people over 80 are triple-vaccinated. According to experts, this can lead to many victims in an uncontrolled corona wave. The cabinet had previously spoken several times about wanting to bring forward the vaccination campaign. But even on Tuesday there was no information on how concrete progress should be made.
The Commission demands proper implementation of the rules
A deviation from the previous strict corona policy is therefore not widely seen. The Health Commission only called for previously announced adjustments to be made “quickly and thoroughly” to reduce the “discomfort caused”. Authorities must also properly implement existing rules and refrain from the “wrong practice” of additional measures, it said.
People’s dismay had increased as the biggest corona wave to date since the start of the pandemic rolled across the People’s Republic nearly three years ago. A fifth of the world’s second-largest economy — hundreds of millions of people — is likely to be hit by lockdowns across the country, foreign experts estimate. After a steady increase in the number of infections nationwide, the Health Commission on Tuesday reported a slight drop in the number of daily new infections to about 38,400 cases. The day before, more than 40,000 additional infections had been reported. In the capital, however, the number of new infections continued to rise to more than 4300. While supermarkets and market halls are still open to deliver food, most restaurants, schools, shops and offices in Beijing are closed.
Following calls on social media for new protests on Monday night, police had massively increased their presence. In the capital, the Liangma River promenade near the diplomatic district was specially secured after hundreds demonstrated there on Sunday evening. Police officers were also all over the streets of the Haidian University District. In Shanghai, a large contingent of security forces was mobilized around People’s Square. The situation was similar on Wulumuqi Road, where barriers were erected to prevent crowds on weekends.
Protest with white sheets
Dozens of students gathered Monday evening at the Chinese University in China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and, like protesters in other cities over the weekend, held up blank sheets of paper to commemorate the victims. The white sheets have become a symbol of resistance and protest against Chinese censorship.
According to the White House, US President Joe Biden followed the protests. “People should have the right to peacefully assemble and protest against a policy, law or regulation with which they disagree,” said National Security Council communications director John Kirby.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
