Today, Explained China’s biggest protests since Tiananmen Square
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Dec 1, 2022 Josh Chin, Deputy China Bureau Chief at The Wall Street Journal and an expert on China's surveillance state, discusses the unprecedented protests in China sparked by strict COVID restrictions. He highlights how social media has empowered citizens to challenge government control. The conversation delves into the historical evolution of China's surveillance apparatus and the parallels between its methods and those used by tech giants. Chin illuminates the potential impact of these protests on government policies and the vulnerabilities they expose within the authoritarian regime.
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Xinjiang Fire Sparks Protests
- Protests ignited in Xinjiang, China, after an apartment fire killed 10 people.
- COVID restrictions, like blocked entrances, allegedly hampered rescue efforts, sparking outrage.
Spread of Protests
- The Xinjiang protests spread nationwide due to relatable lockdown experiences and shared anger.
- The rapid dissemination on social media overwhelmed censors, amplifying the movement.
Blank Paper Protest
- Blank sheets of paper became a powerful protest symbol against censorship in China.
- This tactic exposed the absurdity of the censorship by forcing authorities to confiscate blank pages.
