Stephen McDonell Profile picture
Nov 27, 2022 10 tweets 10 min read Read on X
Anti-#ZeroCovid protests are spreading in #China in different parts of the country, following deaths in a fire blamed on lockdown policies. bbc.com/news/world-asi…
This anti-#ZeroCovid protest is said to have happened today at Tsinghua University in #Beijing. For young people in #China, a large chunk of this crucial part of their lives has been dominated by the #Covid crisis and all its restrictions.
You’ll notice anti-#ZeroCovid protestors holding blank sheets of paper in #China. This is not only a statement about dissent being silenced here, it’s also an up yours to the authorities, as if to say ‘Are you going to arrest me for holding a sign saying nothing?”.
You can see more video footage of the anti-#ZeroCovid protests in #China today in this piece cut together by the BBC’s Beijing bureau… “Zero-Covid anger grows after deadly China fire” bbc.co.uk/news/world-asi…
From me re anti-#ZeroCovid protests in #China. One protester calls out: "Xi Jinping!" And hundreds reply: "Step down!". Again and again: "Xi Jinping! Step down! Xi Jinping! Step down!". Acts of dissent are not unusual in China.. this time it's different. bbc.com/news/world-asi…
At the vigil in #Chengdu tonight (marking the deaths in #Xinjiang and calling for an end to #ZeroCovid) reports that the chant was going up "No more leader for life!", opposing #XiJinping's forever presidency. #China #Covid
#Being anti-#ZeroCovid protests underway right now. #China
#Beijing anti-#ZeroCovid protests are continuing… #China
BTW that was a typo above, I obviously meant anti-#ZeroCovid protests in #Beijing tonight. #China
#Beijing protestors were tonight calling for detained #Shanghai protestors to be released. Could this be the first time ever Beijingers have cheered their support for Shanghai in any capacity? ;-) #ZeroCovid building bridges. #ChinaProtests

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More from @StephenMcDonell

May 29, 2023
Unrest in #Yunnan south west #China over the weekend after reported moves by the government to demolish a mosque. Large numbers of riot police clashed with local Hui Muslims. Najiaying now said to be sealed off, with the internet cut there.
This thread has quite a few clips on in which came out before the internet was cut there…
A key point of tension in recent years has come from the “de-Arabisation” of mosques in #China. Some mosques have been completely demolished and others refashioned to have a more Chinese design. I’m not sure what the plan is in this case.
Read 4 tweets
May 17, 2023
A stand up comedy company in #China has been fined 14.7 million yuan (USD $2.13 million) after a comedian told a joke said to be making fun of the People's Liberation Army at a #Beijing show. The company Xiaoguo Culture says it has terminated its contract with comedian Li Haoshi.
The joke involved dogs chasing a squirrel which he said reminded him of the expression, "Adopt a good style of work; be able to fight and win battles", a phrase #XiJinping has used to praise the work ethic of #China's military.
Stand up comedians in #China really have to be careful what they say. Eg, When performances started after #Covid they were ordered not to make fun of the #Shanghai lockdown. Some have turned to using English but they also must tread lightly... bbc.com/news/av/world-…
Read 5 tweets
Mar 8, 2023
In recent years, #China based correspondents are being increasingly blocked from attending large political gatherings. Instead, the Communist Party flies in “friendly journalists” from other counties who can be relied on for positive coverage of the rubber stamp Congresses.
It’s glaring at this Congress: very few #China-based correspondents being allowed in for anything, it’s mainly the agencies given access + those who’ve been flown in by #Beijing for “journalism training” and who deliver puff about how great the Congress is with questions like…
I am amazed by the naivety of those who think this is somehow comparable to the way things work in other countries. For whatever faults there are with the western media, leaders in the West are routinely grilled by reporters. "Press conferences" at the NPC are propaganda shows.
Read 5 tweets
Mar 7, 2023
Strongly-worded attack on the #US from #China's leader #XiJinping who said "western countries led by the US have implemented all-round containment, encirclement and suppression" against China + that this this brought "severe challenges" for this country. Closed door speech.
#China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang also warned if #Washington doesn't "hit the breaks" soon instead of ramping up tensions that this would "surely lead to conflict and confrontation".
#China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang said that the #US speaks about guard rails to avoid conflict but that if the US continues to go down the wrong path, no amount of guard rails would prevent a de-railing.
Read 4 tweets
Mar 6, 2023
Bad enough that foreign correspondents have to work in #China under appalling conditions with constant state-sponsored harassment but straight out lies from Party-controlled media about it: “freely do interviews”? At the Congress? Most can’t even get inside the Great Hall. Image
Only a handful of mostly agency reporters were allowed in for the NPC opening session. The vast majority of #China-based international correspondents are now denied entry to these events. Instead, people flown in for the Party’s China friendly media training get to go.
BTW, if you want to read the actual FCCC report regarding the ever deteriorating working conditions for correspondents in #China, here it is:
Read 4 tweets
Feb 5, 2023
#China Foreign Ministry re Chinese balloon being shot down by #US fighter jet: “China strongly disapproves of & protests against the US attack on a civilian unmanned airship by force…” that #Beijing had asked US to “handle the matter in a calm, professional & restrained manner”
#China For Ministry[cont] “…the #US use of force is a clear overreaction & a serious violation of international practice. China will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the company concerned, and reserves the right to make further responses if necessary”.
Images of the balloon being shot down now being shared on social media in #China. #US
Read 13 tweets

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