China warned to “resolutely crack down” on “hostile forces” as historic demonstrations continued throughout the night, including chaotic street clashes involving riot police in biohazard suits.
Leaders of the Communist Party issued the grave warning without mentioning the nationwide marches, the greatest display of dissent in the 33 years since the Tiananmen Square protests ended in misery and slaughter.
However, in a statement released on Tuesday, the party’s governing council for law enforcement agencies emphasized the importance of continuing “effective measures” to “vigorously protect national security.”
The Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission stated, “We must resolutely crack down on infiltration and sabotage activities by hostile forces in accordance with the law, resolutely crack down on illegal and criminal acts that disrupt social order, and effectively maintain overall social stability.”
The warning was issued on Tuesday as protests continued despite a harsh police crackdown and the prospect of hefty jail terms.
The outrage that began with demonstrations against China’s “zero-COVID policies” and grew to include calls for President Xi Jinping’s resignation has led to at least 43 demonstrations in 22 locations, according to the Australian research tank ASPI. This total does not yet include Tuesday’s late arrivals.
ASPI reports that there have been at least 43 protests in 22 places, excluding Tuesday night’s demonstrations.
Late on Tuesday, a succession of videos showed jubilant protestors grappling with riot police in the Haizhu neighborhood of Guangzhou.
A video footage saw scores of police officers wearing white hazmat suits and carrying shields as they moved in formation over what seemed to be torn-down lockdown barricades while items flew at them.
People are seen hurling things at the police, who are subsequently seen removing around a dozen individuals with their hands tied with cable ties.
A second video footage saw a tear gas canister falling in the middle of a small gathering on a tight roadway, causing people to escape.
Chen, a local resident, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that at least 100 police officers converged on the region to quell the demonstrations.
Three years into the epidemic, China’s “zero-COVID” policy still keeps millions under lockdown and quarantine, limiting their access to food and medication while destroying the economy and severely restricting travel, which sparked the wave of protests.
This fury ultimately spilled out after ten people perished in an apartment fire last week, which was largely attributed to their being locked inside during lockdowns.
It led to unprecedented calls for Xi’s resignation, which is deemed subversive and punishable by severe jail sentences.
To emphasize their lack of free speech rights, the primary emblem of the protests is now holding up blank sheets of white paper.
Even before Tuesday’s threat to “resolutely crack down” on “hostile elements,” security agencies in key cities including as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou had staged a large show of force to prevent gatherings.
China has been flooded by hazmat-suited officers.
via REUTERS
Hundreds of SUVs, vans, and armored vehicles with flashing lights were parked along city streets on Wednesday as police and paramilitary forces conducted random ID checks and searched people’s mobile phones for photos, banned apps, and other potential evidence that they had participated in the protests.
The ruling party’s ultimatum came as military trucks were spotted rolling through the streets to prevent demonstrators from reassembling.
Twitter/@fangshimin
Many students have also been expelled from universities, which have historically been centers of activity, such as the Tiananmen Square demonstrations.
Officials looked to be attempting to conceal the crackdown, as social media posts on protests were removed by the party’s extensive internet censorship apparatus.
Wednesday, US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns stated, “The Chinese people have the right to peacefully demonstrate.”
They have the right to express their opinions. They are entitled to being heard. This is a fundamental right everywhere in the globe. It ought to be. “This right should not be impeded, nor should it be tampered with,” he said.
He also supported “press freedom” despite claims that Chinese authorities had arrested and even assaulted international journalists.
The spokeswoman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zhao Lijian, defended China’s attitude on COVID-19 and advised other states to mind their own business.
“We hope they would first listen to the views and concerns of their own people before pointing fingers at others,” Zhao told reporters.
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