Protests in China Move Government to Drop Restrictions

JULIANNA TAPIA (Editor-in-Chief)

On Nov. 25, Chinese citizens began protests against the harsh COVID regulations, such as total lockdowns and requiring proof of negative tests in public spaces, according to CNN. The Chinese government later announced they would be lifting some of the regulations.

The Chinese government has been adamant about heavy lockdown rules since the beginning, even when Covid cases were low, as a precautionary measure. However, the protests were scarce and short-lived. The current wave of protests began when there was an apartment fire on Nov. 24 in Xinjiang, China. People under lockdown due to COVID were locked in their rooms with no way to get out. As a consequence of this, nine people were injured and 10 were killed.

Afterwards, people took to the streets with the hope that the regulations would be lifted. However, according to the New Yorker, they were still wary about censorship and prosecution from the Chinese government. Protesters used blank sheets of papers instead of posters in order to get their message across without facing charges.

“I support the people’s right to protest because I know the Chinese government is quick to shut that down,” junior Jonas Nassar said.

This did not stop officials from trying to incriminate citizens. According to Volunteers of America (VOA), there have been numerous accounts of unwarranted searches and seizures of people’s social media and cell phones.

“Notes on social media said people were being stopped randomly by police who checked their phones, possibly looking for signs they were supporting the protests,” the VOA said.

Following the protests, in order to be more lenient the Chinese government decided to change some of the policies that they had originally put into place. For example, proof of negative tests would no longer be required at every public place, like movie theaters, restaurants, and the bus. According to BBC, people experiencing mild to no symptoms would also be able to quarantine at home as opposed to a facility or hospital, which was also previously required. 

However, there are concerns surrounding the decision to drop the restrictions. According to CNN, China may not be equipped to handle the repercussions of sudden shifts in quarantine rules due to a low number of vaccinations and medications, as well as low hospital capacity.