BEIJING GIVES UP: Chinese citizens ’empowered’ after COVID protests, Chinese researcher says

Chinese citizens are feeling more confident after protests against “draconian COVID-19 restrictions” forced Chinese authorities to ease rules, a human rights researcher told Fox News.

“People are tired of the restrictions,” said Yaqiu Wang, senior China fellow at Human Rights Watch. “There is so much pent-up anger and frustration at the massive human rights abuses resulting from the restrictions rather than COVID itself.”

Demonstrations erupted in several cities in China in the last days of November, when residents took to the streets to protest the nation’s “zero-COVID” policy. In some cities such as Wuhan, protests turned into violence when police and residents clashed.

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“We often say that protests in China are useless because the government is too strong,” Wang said. “But it’s an example that if you really go out and claim what you want, you get it, or at least you get some of it.”

Chinese authorities eased restrictions due to COVID-19 after Chinese citizens in several cities protested the country’s strict “COVID zero” policy, which led to citywide lockdowns, mandatory COVID-19 testing and mass quarantines. Beijing reversed course on strict policies to help quell protests because ‘zero COVID’ approach hurts residents, according to A protester in Tiananmen Square.

Demonstrators hold candles as they march in Beijing after nationwide protests against COVID-19.

Demonstrators hold candles as they march in Beijing after nationwide protests against COVID-19.
(AP Photo/Ng Han Guang)

“This should be understood in the context of three years of draconian COVID restrictions,” Wang said. To enter a hospital, grocery store, or company office, Chinese residents “must test negative.”

“Some people needed emergency medical care, but they couldn’t get to the hospital because they couldn’t leave their apartment, and some of those people died,” Wang continued.

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Asked if the Biden administration supports rights of Chinese citizens to protestSecretary of State Anthony Blinken said, “Of course we do.”

“We support the right of people everywhere, whether in China, whether in Iran or anywhere else, to protest peacefully, to state their views, to express their dissatisfaction,” Blinken said.

Wang said despite Chinese authorities easing restrictions, surveillance and crackdown on protesters has been tough.

Yaqiu Wang, senior fellow at Human Rights Watch, said Chinese protesters are feeling more confident after authorities eased some of the COVID-19 restrictions.

Yaqiu Wang, senior fellow at Human Rights Watch, said Chinese protesters are feeling more confident after authorities eased some of the COVID-19 restrictions.
(Fox News Digital/John Michael Raasch)

“I heard about sources who told me that they went to protest sites and thought they were anonymous,” she said. “But later they were visited by the police.”

“Yesterday they came to the protest site, and today they were visited by the police,” Wang continued. “The police were pretty efficient.”

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Wang said she believed her sources were tracked by police through surveillance footage or through location services on their phones.

Wang said that despite the police measures, residents believe that the easing of restrictions is a victory for the authorities.

Chinese police are blocking access to a place where protesters gathered in Shanghai on Sunday, November 1.  27, 2022.

Chinese police are blocking access to a place where protesters gathered in Shanghai on Sunday, November 1. 27, 2022.
(AP Photo)

“People feel very powerful because living in this very repressive country, you feel like you have no say in how you are governed,” she said. “You’re depressed because you can’t control your destiny.”

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“People are taking a big risk by protesting in China,” Wang said. “In a way, the government is responding to it.”

“It’s an inspiring feeling,” she continued.

To watch the full interview with Yaqiu Wang, click here.