Chinese universities are sending students home as the ruling Communist Party tightens anti-virus controls and tries to prevent more protests after crowds angered by its severe “zero COVID” restrictions demanded the resignation of President Xi Jinping in the largest demonstration of public discontent in decades.
Tuesday, there were no reports of protests in Beijing, Shanghai, or other large cities where police were present.
Some anti-virus regulations were loosened on Monday, possibly in an effort to soothe public outrage following rallies in at least eight cities over the weekend. The ruling party, however, reaffirmed its “zero COVID” approach, which has confined millions of individuals to their homes in an effort to isolate every illness.
Xi’s own mater, Tsinghua University, where students demonstrated on Sunday, and other institutions in Beijing and the southern province of Guangdong said they were shielding students from COVID-19. However, sending them to distant hometowns lessens the chance of further activity following last weekend’s university protests.
Monday, November 28, 2022, in Central, Hong Kong, locals carry flowers in remembrance of victims of a recent fatal fire in Urumqi.
AP
Some colleges organized transportation for students to railway terminals by bus. They stated that classes and finals will be administered online.
Beijing Forestry University’s website states, “We will make arrangements for students who wish to return to their hometowns.” It was reported that all of its professors and students tested negative for the virus.
As a result of a surge in illnesses, the Chinese government has mandated widespread testing and enforced further regulations throughout the country. However, the decision to scatter students was out of the ordinary at a time when many cities are advising the public to avoid travel and imposing mobility restrictions.
Monday, around 50 mainland Chinese students demonstrated at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in solidarity of those on the mainland. They lighted candles and sang, “No PCR tests, only liberty!” and “Resist tyranny, do not be slaves!”
The gathering and a similar one in Hong Kong’s financial sector were the largest rallies in the Chinese colony in over a year, as a result of restrictions enforced to squash a pro-democracy movement.
Monday, November 28th, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, protesters hold up blank white sheets during a memorial for victims of a recent fatal fire in Urumqi.
AP
“Zero COVID” has helped China maintain lower case rates than the United States and other large nations. People in certain places have been restricted to their homes for up to four months, and they claim they do not have dependable access to food and medicine.
The Chinese Communist Party pledged to reduce disturbance by modifying quarantine and other regulations last month. However, an increase in illnesses has caused towns to strengthen their control measures, resulting in public ire.
Some protestors directed their ire towards Xi, China’s most powerful leader since the 1980s, despite the fact that the majority of demonstrators criticized severe restrictions. Saturday in Shanghai, according to an Associated Press-verified footage, a throng yelled “Xi Jinping! Step down! “CCP! Resign!”
Beijing’s municipal administration stated on Monday that it will no longer install gates to restrict entrance to housing complexes where diseases are present.
Monday, November 28, 2022, in Central, Hong Kong, blank white sheets and flowers are placed in remembrance of the victims of a recent fatal fire in Urumqi.
AP
It made no mention of a fire that killed at least ten people in Urumqi last week. This resulted in irate internet queries over whether firemen or victims attempting to flee were impeded by locked doors or other anti-virus safeguards.
This week, Urumqi and another city in the Xinjiang region of China’s northwest will reopen markets and other enterprises in regions assessed to have a minimal risk of infection, as well as restore public bus service.
»During protests, Chinese university students were sent home«