Protests against strict Covid-19 regulations escalated across China in late November 2022, after at least 10 were killed when a fire ripped through a locked down building in Xinjiang’s capital, Urumqi. Frustration with ongoing restrictions boiled over with mass gatherings, police-protester clashes, disobedience of Covid rules, and rare anti-government chants in key cities and at dozens of university campuses.
‘We can never go back to normal’: A year on from China’s ‘white placard’ zero-Covid protests
In the early hours of November 27, 2022, vigils for victims of a fire in Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi morphed into multi-city calls to end zero-Covid measures, and even in some cases topple the ruling Communist Party and leader Xi Jinping.
Hong Kong ‘welcomes’ passing of China’s patriotic education law, which covers city and Macau
The Patriotic Education Law, which covers Hong Kong and Macau, will come into effect on January 1, 2024.
Overseas Hongkongers, mainland Chinese hold Tiananmen crackdown vigils as city’s tribute suppressed
While historically, many overseas memorials were hosted by exiled Tiananmen activists, this year they were joined by young emigrants from Hong Kong and mainland China, including those who joined the “blank placard” protests in the mainland last November.
Covid-19: China lifts sweeping visa curbs on foreigners in place for 3 years
The updated policy will also allow for the resumption of visa-free travel for those arriving on cruise ships to Shanghai as well as for certain tourist groups from Hong Kong, Macau and countries within the ASEAN regional grouping.
China’s Xi Jinping to formalise third term, brush off crises at annual event
Xi Jinping has faced unexpected challenges and scrutiny over his leadership, with mass protests over his zero-Covid policy and its subsequent abandonment that saw countless people die. But those issues are almost certain to be avoided at the National People’s Congress.
Chinese activists approached by online accounts impersonating Reuters reporters
“The Hong Kong Journalists Association believes that such acts amounted to duping the interviewees’ trust, which is despicable,” a statement from the press group read.
Dozens of Covid protesters still behind bars in China, NGO says
Campaigners and media outlets have reported in recent weeks that Chinese authorities have quietly detained an unknown number of protesters, including university students and journalists.
‘Give me my youth back’: Students return to the forefront of China protests
China’s current student cohort – the first generation with no living memory of the Tiananmen crackdown – have received a wholly patriotic education from birth, and are often characterised as less politically defiant than their predecessors. That view has been tested.
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