The Daily

What It’s Like Inside One of China’s Protests

Nov 30, 2022

Vivian Wang, a China correspondent for The New York Times, shares firsthand insights on the recent protests sweeping China against strict COVID-19 restrictions. She describes the emotions and motivations of demonstrators, highlighting how initial grievances over lockdowns have evolved into broader calls for change. The discussion also touches on the impact of the zero COVID policy on personal freedoms, the role of government propaganda, and the potential implications for President Xi Jinping's leadership amid rising public dissent.

30:50

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Episode guests

Vivian Wang

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Spark of Dissent: Protests in China

11min

Exploring China's Zero COVID Protests

3min

China's Zero COVID Policy: Control and Consequences

13min

Navigating the Crisis of Zero COVID in China

2min

Urgent Legislative Actions to Avert Rail Strike and Celebrating Sports Triumph

3min

Over the weekend, protests against China’s strict coronavirus restrictions ricocheted across the country in a rare case of nationwide civil unrest. It was the most extensive series of protests since the pro-democracy movement in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

This is what these demonstrations look and feel like, and what they mean for President Xi Jinping and his quest for “zero Covid.”

Guest: Vivian Wang, a China correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading:

Demonstrations against coronavirus restrictions in China have evolved into broader demands. What are protesters calling for?
In a country where protests are swiftly quashed, many who gathered to voice their discontent — under the watchful eye of the police — were uncertain about how far to go.

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