logo
Rare China Protest Reveals Resistance to Xi's Frontline Officers

Rare China Protest Reveals Resistance to Xi's Frontline Officers

Bloomberg3 days ago
President Xi Jinping relies on legions of local officials to govern China's 1.4 billion people. A rare protest over the brutal attack of a schoolgirl has inflamed concerns over their credibility.
Hundreds poured onto streets in Jiangyou, in the southwestern province of Sichuan, one night last week accusing authorities of being too lenient on the attackers. Within hours, videos of residents clashing with baton-wielding police dominated Chinese social media, as the incident neared the top of Weibo's trending chart and circulated in private WeChat groups before state censors finally swept in.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump to Hold Off Hiking China Tariffs Over Russia Oil Purchases
Trump to Hold Off Hiking China Tariffs Over Russia Oil Purchases

Bloomberg

time16 minutes ago

  • Bloomberg

Trump to Hold Off Hiking China Tariffs Over Russia Oil Purchases

US President Donald Trump said he will hold off on raising tariffs on Chinese goods over the country's purchases of Russian oil, citing progress he said was made with Vladimir Putin toward ending the war in Ukraine. 'Because of what happened today, I think I don't have to think about that,' Trump said Friday in a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity after his summit with Putin. 'Now, I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don't have to think about that right now.'

Fresh clashes erupt in Serbian capital after days of unrest
Fresh clashes erupt in Serbian capital after days of unrest

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Fresh clashes erupt in Serbian capital after days of unrest

Thousands of anti-government protesters again clashed with police in Serbia's capital on Friday, as days of unrest fuelled fears of a worsening crackdown on a months-long push for early elections. After a tense stand-off between right-wing government loyalists and the larger crowd of protesters, fireworks, tear gas, and stun grenades erupted among the anti-graft demonstrators, according to an AFP journalist in the crowd. It sparked a series of clashes with riot police in central Belgrade on Friday, and marks the fourth straight night of violence between police and rival groups in the Balkan nation. Almost daily protests -- some drawing hundreds of thousands -- have gripped Serbia since November, after a railway station roof collapse crushed 16 people to death. The tragedy became a symbol of deep-rooted corruption in the Balkan nation, as frustrated demands for a transparent investigation grew into calls for early elections. The mostly peaceful demonstrations escalated this week as large groups of pro-government supporters, many masked and some armed with batons and fireworks, attacked protesters. "I don't want to live in a country of police repression," 46-year-old Zeljko from Belgrade told AFP, as he stood with protesters outside government buildings before the violence. A hundred metres away, dozens of government supporters, dressed in black T-shirts, aimed green lasers at the crowd, an apparent attempt to provoke the larger group. "They beat the people and protect criminals with crowbars. I came to say we won't accept that," Zeljko said, referring to alleged police violence against protesters. Dozens have been arrested at rallies around the country in recent days, after violence between the groups ended in the ransacking of the ruling party's offices in the northern city of Novi Sad. While opposition MPs and activists have accused pro-government "thugs" of brutal attacks, sharing images of graphic injuries sustained at the rallies. Several videos shared online showed police striking unarmed protesters with batons. In one video from Thursday night, around 20 officers surround and beat a man while he is on the ground. Police have rejected allegations of excessive force, instead accusing demonstrators of attacking their members, with over 120 officers injured in violence over the past few nights. "All those who have spent these past days spreading lies about police brutality should comment on these figures," Interior Minister Ivica Dacic told journalists on Friday. Similarly, President Aleksandar Vucic has denied that his supporters are behind the violence, instead blaming the anti-corruption movement, which he routinely labels "terrorists". But protesters told AFP they felt police were unfairly protecting Vucic's supporters while targeting the student-led movement for arrest. "We are completely powerless because the police are working with the criminals," said 52-year-old Nevena. "They've hijacked the state and we're trying to take it back." While the protests have so far led to the resignation of the prime minister and the collapse of his cabinet, Vucic remains at the helm of a reshuffled government. oz/al/dc

China's Lost Youth: ‘Rat People' and ‘Full-Time Grandkids'
China's Lost Youth: ‘Rat People' and ‘Full-Time Grandkids'

Epoch Times

time2 hours ago

  • Epoch Times

China's Lost Youth: ‘Rat People' and ‘Full-Time Grandkids'

Thinking About China Opinion High youth unemployment and negative social trends highlight a growing disconnect between Beijing's military mobilization goals and economic ambition. China's rising youth unemployment and retreat into trends like 'lying flat,' 'rat people,' and 'full-time grandchildren' reveal a growing disconnect between Chinese leader Xi Jinping's calls for national rejuvenation and a generation increasingly unwilling or unable to work.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store