November 30, 2022
2 mins read

‘White paper’ protest movement gains global support

Some protesters picked up slogans from the ‘Bridge Man’ protest banners hung from a traffic bridge in Beijing on October 13 that called on President Xi Jinping to step down …reports Asian Lite News

Rights activists and democracy campaigners outside China have come out in strong support of the “white paper” protest movement last weekend that was sparked by a fire in a locked-down apartment building in Xinjiang’s regional capital, Urumqi, according to a media report.

Some protesters picked up slogans from the ‘Bridge Man’ protest banners hung from a traffic bridge in Beijing on October 13 that called on President Xi Jinping to step down and call elections, as well as putting an end to lockdowns, mass Covid testing and surveillance, RFA reported

Those calls were echoed in an open letter to the Chinese government by dozens of exiled Chinese dissidents including Wang Juntao in response to the protests, in which participants held up blank sheets of paper in a mute and ironic protest against authoritarian rule and lack of freedom of speech, the report said.

“There are angry public protests all across China right now, demanding an end to the zero-Covid policy, which disregards people’s suffering and flies in the face of medical consensus,” the letter said.

“As the person responsible for it, Xi Jinping should step down!”

President Xi Jinping. (Xinhua/IANS)

The letter called for a full review of Covid-19 measures, research into an effective vaccination and treatment program, and an end to rolling lockdowns across the country.

“[China should] investigate Xi Jinping’s cover-up of the early stages of the pandemic … and hold him accountable for wrongdoing, along with the Communist Party and government officials … who enforced his tyrannical laws,” the letter said, RFA reported.

Former 1989 student leader Wang Dan, who runs the Taiwan-based Dialogue China think tank, said overseas solidarity was very important to make the most of the weekend’s protests, which were mostly spontaneous and uncoordinated.

Wang said the protests had likely already hurt Xi’s prestige within the party.

“This is just the beginning,” he said, citing rising youth unemployment and an economic downturn that will fuel dissatisfaction with the Chinese government.

“[Xi] definitely won’t have an easy time over the next five years, and I strongly doubt he will get a fourth term in office.”

Wang also co-signed a second open letter calling on the army not to fire on civilians, should the protests spread.

“We cannot have a repeat of the tragedy of the June 4, 1989 massacre,” according to the letter, addressed to the People’s Liberation Army.

ALSO READ: We stand with protestors in China, says Trudeau

Previous Story

Food price inflation hits new high of 12.4%

Next Story

Concern over China’s tightening hold over Iraq’s oil industry

Latest from -Top News

White House Focus on India COMPACT

The Secretary affirmed the strength of the US-India relationship, highlighting implementation of the US-India COMPACT…reports Asian Lite News The US-India COMPACT—a comprehensive framework for bilateral cooperation—took centre stage during the meeting between

India-US Trade Deal Likely This Week

The interim trade deal would be an initial step towards a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement between Indian and the US….reports Asian Lite News India is expected to finalise an interim trade

One Year Later, Hasina’s Son Raises Red Flag

Hasina’s abrupt exit last August after violent student protests was widely seen as a blow to democracy in the Muslim-majority nation of 170 million….reports Asian Lite News Sajeeb Wazed, son of former

Global South Finds Its Campus in India

The question is no longer if India can attract global talent, but whether it can build the conditions to do so at scale—with care and vision. Done right, India could emerge as

Jaishankar Gets Real on India-US Ties

The EAM underlined the structural drivers of the bilateral relationship, saying, “The trend line over the last 25 years has actually been very strong….reports Asian Lite News External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Xi Jinping Urges BRICS Unity Against Cold War Mentality

The Cold War mentality is still haunting our world and

‘BRI project causing environmental risks in South Asia’

South Asia is amongst the main regions likely to be