20th CPC Congress: Banners Against Xi Jinping and China's Health Policy
A screen showing Xi Jinping at the CCP Museum in Beijing on October 13, 2022. REUTERS - FLORENCE LO
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
On the eve of the XXᵉ Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, banners were hung Thursday afternoon on a bridge in Beijing with slogans against Chinese health policy, but also against the Chinese president who intends to serve a third term at the head of the country.
These images were immediately censored on social networks.
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With our correspondent in Beijing
,
Stéphane Lagarde
At least two large white banners were hung on Thursday (October 13th) on Sitong Bridge in Beijing's Haidian district.
This is the tech district, the university district.
Incredible slogans for China, in large red characters, appeared furtively on the images which circulated on the networks.
They first appeared in the "we no longer want" mode, in particular of Chinese health policy: "
We don't need a Covid test to eat, we no longer want confinements but freedom, we no longer want of lies but dignity, we do not want the cultural revolution but reforms, we no longer want to be slaves but to be citizens
.
»
Images reportedly from #Beijing circulating on social media, showing banners saying “I don't want PCR test, I want to be able to eat,” “I don't want lockdown want freedom” and “I don't want Cultural Revolution want reform.”
The authenticity remains unclear.
pic.twitter.com/EacC4SetTB
— William Yang (@WilliamYang120) October 13, 2022
Slogans and black smoke
These are words of anger, words never before seen in the Chinese public space, with the second banner directly calling for revolt and strike action against "
the dictator and traitor Xi Jinping
", reports the
China Digital Times
.
Under the concrete interchange, the smartphones did not come back.
Especially since to attract attention, thick smoke escaped from the bridge.
Some netizens thought of a 2022 "Tank man", setting himself on fire before the CCP Congress.
Aerial views appear to show more trash fires.
We do not know who is behind this wild clash.
这个 俯拍 看 得 比较 清楚 ， 不 是 自焚 ， 是 在 烧 东西 （引起 路人 注意 注意 ， ， 大批 过去 过去 把 人 抓走 了。 只要 能 熬 ， 人 人 不 被 整死 ， ， 出来 又 是 是 一 条 好 好 好 好 好 好pic.twitter.com/j9G3lUggRm (转自: @fangshimin）
— 头条趋势 (@chvideonews) October 13, 2022
Invisibilization of the event
As every time the figure of the Head of State is questioned, the police reacted immediately.
Move along, nothing to see !
A major cleaning has also been done on social networks.
WeChat accounts alluding to the scene are being shut down, censors are lighting backfires to make the event invisible, with hundreds of fake accounts flooding the web with panties and photos of young women under the hood. hashtag #beijing.
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China: 20th CPC Congress
Xi Jinping