Chinese leader Xi Jinping faced unprecedented dissent after thousands of demonstrators protested in cities across China over the weekend against his zero-Covid strategy on Monday. Continuous lockdowns have spiralled into a second night and spread to many big cities including the capital Beijing and financial hub Shanghai . Demonstrators gathered in the capital Beijing yesterday and the protests continued in Shanghai for the second night shouting anti-government slogans and calling for an easing of the COVID restrictions.
Media reports that in an unprecedented display of solidarity to oppose the COVID restrictions which has entered its third year, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Chaoyang district in the capital Beijing late at night yesterday, where all the embassies are located and took part in the protest holding blank paper to express their discontent and acknowledge the censorship. Among other slogans, they called for the release of protesters in Shanghai who were arrested earlier. Protesters in Shanghai again clashed with police last night as protests have flared and spread to several cities and universities which started in response to the anger after a deadly fire killed 10 people in Urumqi, Xinjiang apparently due to strict lockdowns.
