Global Protest Wave: Around a Dozen Cities Rally Against China’s Strict Zero‑Covid Rules
When the Xinjiang fire last week left ten families tragically locked inside apartment flames, a ripple of anger surged across China and the diaspora. Expats, students, and even ordinary citizens took to streets worldwide – from London and Paris to Tokyo and Sydney – to show solidarity and push back against Beijing’s zero‑Covid crackdown.
Why the World Is Uniting
- Expatriate dissidents and students staged small‑scale vigils and protests in ten+ cities.
- Most rallies saw only a few dozen participants, but a handful boasted crowds over 100.
- These gatherings mark one of the few moments where Chinese citizens growled “no” together – in China and abroad alike.
Back‑Home Anticlimax: The Cockney‑Style Chaos in Hong Kong
On Monday night, we saw a spontaneous show in Hong Kong’s Central business district – a place that had felt the sting of anti‑government unrest back in 2019. A dozen voices were heard, echoing a decade’s worth of tension.
“People should feel free to voice their opinions. Suppressing that can’t be the answer,” quipped Lam, a 50‑year‑old Hong Kong citizen. His words resonated like a litmus test for the city’s future.
Students Join the Mourning Tribute at CUHK
At the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a cluster of students gathered solemnly at the campus center to mourn the victims of the Xinjiang tragedy. Video footage circulating online showed a quiet yet powerful moment of remembrance.
Official Voices: From Washington to the UN
In Washington, the National Security Council rolled out a statement hinting that China’s “zero‑Covid” approach may keep two mosquitoes from turning into a pandemic – though the rights to peaceful protest “go everywhere, including China,” were firmly stressed.
Meanwhile, U.N. Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence urged authorities to abide by international human rights standards. “Let the debate spread across society,” he wrote, “so that policies are effectively understood.”
Bottom Line
From London’s glowing London Eye to Tokyo’s neon-lit streets, the world’s collective frustration is speaking loud and thin. The Chinese government faces nipping a wildfire of discontent that refuses to be extinguished by red lines. If anyone can feel the pulse, it’s the global spirit of free expression that keeps beating on.
‘Support from abroad’
China’s COVID Lockdown: A Firestorm of Frustration
Decade‑Long Crackdown Meets Pandemic Anger
Since Xi Jinping took the reins ten years ago, Beijing has tightened its grip on civil society, media, and the internet. On top of that, the “zero‑Covid” policy—mass lockdowns and quarantine—has become the latest lightning rod for anger. While the policy has kept the death toll lower than in many other countries, it’s left millions cooped up at home for months and taken a toll on the world’s second‑largest economy.
Why the Elite Aren’t Rolling Back the Rules
Chinese officials insist the strict measures are essential to protect lives—especially the elderly, who have low vaccination coverage. “We’re fighting the pandemic under the Party’s leadership and with the people’s cooperation,” the foreign ministry spokesperson said at a Monday briefing, even when asked about domestic protests.
Outside Voices: Having a Word from the Other Side
- Graduate student Chiang Seeta (Paris) says “I felt the pull to step up.” Chiang co‑organized a protest on Sunday that attracted about 200 people. “When I saw so many Chinese citizens and students marching, I realized they’re the ones bearing the brunt,” she told reporters. “We’re now showing our solidarity from abroad.”
- “We all want a fair share of the burden,” she added. A wave of overseas protesters is telling China that the responsibility for lockdowns shouldn’t rest on internal citizens alone.
China’s Stance Is Still Firm
During a routine briefing, the spokesperson stated China was unaware of any overseas demonstrations demanding a lift to the zero‑Covid policy. The official dismissed domestic protests as “not reflecting what actually happened.” They remain confident that, under party leadership, the country can prevail over the virus.
Bottom Line
China’s lockdown strategy is a double‑edged sword: keeping death numbers low but also squeezing households and killing economic growth. While the government stands unfaltering on its campaign, outside voices like Chiang keep urging for a more humane, balanced approach.
Blame, slogans
When Overseas Chinese Students Turn the Spotlight
Over the past few years, opposing the Chinese government has become the shy cousin of the usual “support your country” rallies—think of it as the quiet kid at the school dance who decides to actually lead the dance. Yet, the few times those protests do show up, they’re loud, colorful, and full of hope.
Paris, Tokyo, and New York: A Global Street‑Style Standoff
- Paris – Pompidou Centre: Protesters arranged a makeshift flower garden, lit candles, and whispered a silent tribute to those who lost their lives in the Xinjiang fire. Some even shouted demands for President Xi and the Communist Party to step down.
- Tokyo – Shinjuku Station: Roughly ninety people, including a Beijing university student named Emmanuel, gathered at the busiest rail hub. Emmanuel warned that any backlash against Covid‑19 restrictions would quickly point fingers at the Party itself, crediting China’s political system as the root cause.
- New York – Columbia University: A planned march on Monday, overseen by Shawn from Fuzhou, promised to sidestep the most controversial hot‑pot topics like Taiwan’s status and the Uyghur internment saga in Xinjiang to keep the event welcoming to a wider audience.
Why These Demonstrations Are Rare
Unlike the usual support rallies that shout in unison for their leaders, these protests pepper the air with skepticism and occasional dissent—like a covert spice bomb in a bland broth. You can almost hear the murmurs of past dissidents sewing banners on Beijing bridges or chanting “We want change!” Unfortunately, the 1% of Chinese students in the diaspora who carry out this bold act are often shy from hot‑out topics, fearing backlash or alienation.
“Defiance Has Finally Delighted the Crowd”
While whispers of “Xi must leave” appear in protests, the louder sub‑culture now feels less daunted. After a flurry of demos in Paris and Tokyo, a whispered chant from a student union in Beijing felt like a louder drumbeat. These moments capture the tug‑of‑war between the tradition of loyalty and the craving for liberty.
The Takeaway
Proving that overseas Chinese students can go from hiding in supportive applause to publicly questioning the government is still a delicate balancing act. Belligerent slogans currently remain on the fringes of a global wave of unrest—while some prefer to keep the conversation diplomatic, others’ll continue to stage their own flash mobs in defense of freedom.
