Public demonstration of political discontent is rare in China, and protests are quickly stamped out. But Covid lockdowns have tipped many ordinary citizens over the edge. | OPINION by Jennifer Hsu
The extent of public anger and protests we have seen erupt across at least 18 Chinese cities over the past week is something rarely seen since 1989 inFrustration and exhaustion from nearly three years of COVID lockdowns have tipped many ordinary middle-class Chinese citizens over the edge. The sense of desperation emanating from being locked up to the inability of sustaining livelihood is palpable.
Despite the number of labour protests and strikes recorded in the past 11 months, the message and concerns have rarely crossed to other social areas. Moreover, labour protests have rarely galvanised workers across different industries but have largely remained location or factory specific.Issue-based and localised protests in China often target local governments as the culprits,
Public demonstration of political discontent is rare. Such protests irrespective of their size are quickly stamped out. For the most part, Chinese citizens express general satisfaction with their government, asThe protests we have seen this past week reflect this central-local government dichotomy. Although the central government’s tough zero COVID policies link the different sites of protests, it is not the only grievance that has prompted protesters to take to the streets.
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