Thread by @FLAHAULT

1/9 - “Protests against China’s relentless pandemic controls broke out in Shanghai and other big cities as well as university campuses over the weekend, in a major test for the leadership of strongman Xi Jinping and his #ZeroCovid policy.”
scmp.com/news/china/pol…

2/9 - “Open defiance is rare in China, especially directed at the central government and the ruling Communist Party.
[It] came a month after Xi secured a rule-breaking third term at the party’s national congress, making him China’s most powerful leader since Deng Xiaoping.”

3/9 - “The protests were largely sparked by a deadly residential fire in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang region, which killed 10 and injured 9. The tragedy prompted widespread fury on the internet as many believed Covid restrictions prevented the victims from fleeing.”

4/9 - “The next day, hundreds of angry residents took to Urumqi’s streets demanding an end to the lockdown that has barred 4 million residents from leaving their homes for 100 days.

5/9 - “Authorities in Xinjiang announced on Saturday that coronavirus restrictions would be lifted “in phases” but the assurances failed to stop protests spreading to the country’s most affluent cities and among young students, underlining the growing public impatience.

6/9 - “According to reports and videos posted on Twitter and other social media sites, a few hundred students gathered at Tsinghua University, Xi’s alma mater, on Sunday afternoon, chanting “Democracy, the rule of law and freedom of expression”

7/9 - “Peking University students also protested on Saturday evening, painting slogans on building walls including “We want freedom, not lockdowns” and “Dynamic zero-Covid is a lie” – all while singing “The Internationale” in front of a group of uniformed security guards.”

8/9 - “In memory of the Xinjiang victims, they brought flowers, candles and signs reading “Urumqi, November 24, those who died rest in peace” and shouting “Lift lockdown for Urumqi, lift lockdown for Xinjiang,lift lockdown for all of China”, according to a circulated video clip.”

9/9 - “In remarks that appeared to aimed at widespread doubts and dissatisfaction, it again touted China’s self-claimed victory in controlling the pandemic so far and called on party cadres at all levels to “resolutely overcome misunderstandings”, slackness and “war weariness”.