China on Brink: Will White Paper Protests Erupt Again

China's White Paper Movement and Its Aftermath

“The government now fears the White Paper Movement more than the Tiananmen Square...”

Discover how China's strict COVID-19 policies sparked widespread protests and dissent, and explore the implications for the country's future.

The White Paper Movement, also known as the A4 Revolution, marked a rare nationwide defiance against China's leadership, the largest since the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. This movement was sparked by protests against COVID-19 lockdowns, which eventually escalated into demands for Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to step down.

According to Yicheng Huang, an exiled White Paper protester now living in Germany, “The government now fears the White Paper Movement more than the Tiananmen Square Incident, as it directly targets Xi Jinping's authoritarian regime.” This sentiment reflects the movement's focus on challenging the CCP's leadership and policies.

The protests, which began in response to COVID-19 lockdowns, quickly gained momentum and spread across the country. Demonstrators held up blank sheets of paper, symbolizing the censorship and lack of freedom of speech in China. The movement's demands expanded to include calls for Xi Jinping and the CCP to resign, marking a significant escalation in the protests.

The White Paper Movement, also known as the A4 Revolution, was a rare and bold act of defiance against the Chinese leadership, marking the largest nationwide protests since the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. This movement was sparked by protests against COVID-19 lockdowns, which eventually escalated into demands for Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to step down.

According to Yicheng Huang, an exiled White Paper protester now living in Germany, “The government now fears the White Paper Movement more than the Tiananmen Square Incident, as it directly targets Xi Jinping's authoritarian regime.” This sentiment reflects the movement's focus on challenging the CCP's leadership and policies.

The protests began with demands to relax COVID-19 lockdowns but quickly gained momentum, spreading to multiple cities, including Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou. Demonstrators held up blank sheets of paper, symbolizing the censorship and lack of freedom of speech in China. The movement's demands expanded to include calls for Xi Jinping and the CCP to resign, marking a significant escalation in the protests.

The Urumqi fire tragedy in November 2022 was a devastating incident that sparked widespread outrage and protests in China. The fire broke out in an apartment building in Urumqi, Xinjiang province, killing at least 10 people, with many believing the actual death toll was higher.

The tragedy was exacerbated by the stringent lockdown measures in place at the time, which many blamed for preventing residents from escaping the burning building. The incident highlighted the growing public dissent against China's strict COVID-19 policies, including frequent lockdowns, strict quarantine, and mass testing.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, vigils for the victims turned into widespread protests, with many calling for an end to the strict COVID-19 measures. The incident also sparked a wave of anger and frustration on social media, with many questioning the government's handling of the situation.

The Urumqi fire tragedy marked a turning point in China's COVID-19 response, with many calling for a more nuanced approach to managing the pandemic. The incident also highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in China's governance.

In the aftermath of the unrest, the Chinese authorities made a sudden U-turn, abandoning the highly restrictive zero-COVID policy. Despite this, they proclaimed “a major decisive victory” in pandemic prevention and control, in an attempt to salvage their reputation.

However, the crackdown on protesters continued, with an estimated 100 individuals arrested and charged with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” Many of these protesters remain detained, while others have been released on bail and have fled overseas. For these individuals, the experience has been traumatic.

According to Huang, who participated in the White Paper Movement, “the trauma has been significant” for those who took part. He noted that engaging in civil disobedience in China “comes at a high cost,” highlighting the risks and sacrifices made by those who dared to challenge the authorities.

Huang recounted his harrowing experience at the hands of the police, stating that he was “violently beaten, pinned to the ground, and dragged on a bus with his face covered in blood.” This brutal treatment is a stark reminder of the risks faced by those who dare to challenge the authorities in China.

The testimonies of other protesters corroborate Huang's account, revealing harsh detention conditions, including solitary confinement, prolonged interrogations, and inhumane treatment. These disturbing revelations highlight the Chinese government's willingness to use coercive measures to silence dissenting voices.

Despite the trauma and hardships endured by the protesters, Yaqiu Wang, Research Director for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan at Freedom House, noted that the experience has also fostered a sense of solidarity and empowerment among the protesters. As Wang stated, “whether it's the sadness and trauma or the empowerment and solidarity they feel, it's meaningful.”

According to Yaqiu Wang, China is characterized as an “atomized society” where individuals often feel disconnected and isolated from one another. However, the White Paper Movement marked a significant departure from this trend, as people from various walks of life came together to express their collective discontent. Wang noted that this display of solidarity was a surprising and remarkable phenomenon.

Wang reflected on the enduring impact of the White Paper Movement, stating, “The moment has gone, and people can't do much anymore. But the sense that we are together is still inside people.” This lingering sense of solidarity and shared experience has left an indelible mark on the individuals who participated in the movement.

In the aftermath of the White Paper Movement, Beijing has responded by tightening its grip on spontaneous gatherings by young people. The authorities have intensified their control and censorship efforts, aiming to suppress any potential sparks of dissent or collective action. This move underscores the government's deep-seated fear of young people organizing and mobilizing on their own.

In a bizarre incident, tens of thousands of college students in Henan province, China, participated in a massive night-time bike ride earlier this month. The unusual trend was sparked by a desire to eat soup dumplings, but it was met with an unexpectedly harsh response from the government.

Citing concerns over public safety, local authorities took drastic measures to curb the bike rides. Bike lanes were shut down, curfews were imposed, and some universities even implemented lockdown measures, restricting students' freedom to leave campus. This heavy-handed response has raised eyebrows, with many questioning the government's motives.

According to Yaqiu Wang, the government's reaction betrays a deep-seated fear of its own people. As Wang told DW, “It really shows that the CCP is so profoundly afraid of its own people. [It] intuitively understands that when people get together, they can turn against the Party.” This sentiment suggests that the Chinese government is increasingly wary of any form of collective action, no matter how innocuous it may seem.

A Taiwanese businessman recently shared his harrowing experience of being imprisoned in China for four years. His story highlights the risks faced by individuals who fall afoul of the Chinese authorities.

The Chinese government has been intensifying its surveillance and control measures, even extending to seemingly innocuous events. This year's Halloween parade in Shanghai, for instance, was closely monitored, with police taking away individuals wearing costumes deemed “politically charged.” Huang noted, “[Beijing] is constantly trying to stamp out these spontaneous gatherings.”

Despite the government's efforts to exert control, Huang believes that Chinese society is a powder keg waiting to be ignited. He described the situation as "dry wood waiting to be ignited" since unresolved contradictions continue to grow. This simmering discontent is a source of concern for Xi Jinping, according to Huang, who stated, “For Xi Jinping, this society is very frightening, very frightening indeed.”

A wave of violent attacks has shaken China in recent weeks, leaving many stunned and outraged. The attacks, which included mass stabbings and car rammings, were carried out by individuals who acted on personal frustrations by targeting random strangers. This surge in violence has caught many off guard, as China has long prided itself on its strict gun and knife control policies, as well as its reputation for public safety.

The authorities' response to the attacks has been telling. In an apparent bid to suppress potential unrest, officials scrambled to restrict online information about the incidents. However, their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, as online chatrooms across China quickly filled with discussions about the phenomenon of “taking revenge on society.” This trend has sparked widespread concern and debate, with many seeking to understand the underlying causes of this disturbing new trend.

According to Kele, a member of Citizens Daily, an Instagram account dedicated to documenting and preserving voices of political dissent in China, the Chinese government's censorship system has proven to be surprisingly fragile since the pandemic. Kele, who spoke under a pseudonym for safety reasons, noted that there have been numerous instances of public opinion backfiring, highlighting the limitations of the government's control.

The White Paper protests, in particular, have had a profound impact on young people in China, Kele observed. The protests have empowered them to realize that, despite limited resources, they can still make their voices heard and influence the government. As Kele put it, “even though I do not have many resources, I can make enough noise to make the government take me seriously.” This newfound awareness has the potential to spark further dissent and challenge the government's authority.

Activists believe that the individual motives of protesters can be traced back to a deep-seated public frustration stemming from tightened government control and the country's economic slowdown. This growing discontent has created a fertile ground for dissent and unrest.

According to Huang, a former protester, the same frustration that fueled the protests is also a driving force behind the recent surge in mass killings in China. Huang argues that the country's growing instability and oppression have created an environment in which individuals feel driven to desperate acts. As he noted, “It's impossible to maintain a high-pressure state indefinitely. A lone-wolf style of violent attacks in society is becoming more frequent, and this is because people see no justice and no hope.”