The images we’ve seen from China are astounding.
Loudspeaker user for democracy – one who shouts for freedom, his face is revealed.
We haven’t seen this in over three decades for good reason.
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Why are people protesting in China?
China does not accept dissent. Dissidents often go to jail for very long periods of time. Under Xi Jinping’s totalitarian regime, their lawyers have also been jailed.
Protesters on the streets across China know what will happen to them.
It was reported that many people who participated in protests over the weekend were called or texted by police into their phones using surveillance technology to track them down.
“We know what you’ve been doing” was the message. “Stop or face the consequences.”
Others have been arrested and could face years in prison.
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Police arrest screaming protesters
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China has been building a massive national surveillance system worth billions of dollars to oppress and control its people. It is currently being deployed to wipe out thousands of protesters.
After the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, the Chinese authorities waited their moment, then rounded up the ringleaders using technology to track and track them down.
In Beijing, it was reported that police were one step ahead of protesters, pre-empting demonstrations at the locations where they would be held.
There will be a game of cat and mouse and it will cost a lot of their freedom.
But the Chinese have shown they are willing to take risks. Chinese students sweat and tears to win coveted university places in their fiercely competitive society.
But at more than 50 universities, it seems students have risked all of that by turning out to protest and demand change, which is their emotional power.
Read more:
More than 30 years after Tiananmen, students are on the front lines again in protest
I’ve lived through China’s COVID lockdown for the best three years – it’s been a miserable existence
Chinese President Xi Jinping
China’s authoritarian leader Xi Jinping has big ambitions. Chairman Mao may have unified China, Deng Xiaoping made it richer, but he will bring it to the rightful position of world leader, he believes, and he will not let it. A few days of unrest jeopardize that.
But he faced a dilemma. He may be able to crack down on China’s pressure cooker lid tightening protests but that could risk a further flare-up of unrest.
Or he could ease the lockdown, as people are asking.
But China’s health system is not ready for that. Supposedly their infallible leader defeated the virus, many Chinese – especially the elderly are still unvaccinated – or have had all of their shots. And there aren’t enough intensive care beds to deal with the surge in infections.
If the lockdown is easy, COVID will spike and more people could die, especially the elderly. In a country that reveres the elderly, that could be a political disaster for the government. Either option can only make matters worse.
