Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, makes a cool appearance on the 3rd. Beijing｜ Correspondent Lee Jong-seop
A week after simultaneous large-scale demonstrations in China’s main cities, Beijing, the capital, celebrated the weekend again in a calm atmosphere. Police troops were deployed throughout the weekend to prepare for the possibility of further protests, but citizens generally appeared to remain calm.
On the afternoon of the 3rd, Tiananmen Square in Beijing was rather cold. It is usually a place where many citizens gather on weekends, but due to the cold weather and after the spread of Corona 19, few people could be found. Citizens were occasionally seen taking photos against the backdrop of Tiananmen Square with a large portrait of Mao Zedong, but there seemed to be more police and security guards patrolling than ordinary citizens.
Except for a flag hanging in the middle of Tiananmen Square after the death of former President Jiang Zemin, there was no movement to commemorate him on the streets. Wangfujing Street, the representative downtown area near Tiananmen, was also cold. Most of the street shops were locked following the spread of Corona 19, and citizens passing through some streets shrank from the cold. Major shopping centers were operating as usual, but not many customers visited the stores.
On the 3rd, police cars are concentrated in the Liangmahe area of Chaoyang District, Beijing, China, where the ’empty protest’ took place. Beijing｜ Correspondent Lee Jong-seop
There were no major changes in the daily lives of citizens, but in downtown Beijing, which took buses and taxis that day, it was confirmed that more police vehicles than usual were being used throughout the city. A week ago, after large-scale protests in Beijing and other major cities protesting the Corona 19 quarantine policy, etc., it was clear that the police had increased their vigilance. They appeared to be preparing for the possibility of another protest in the city center over the weekend. In particular, on the 27th of last month, dozens of police cars were gathered near Liangmahe, Chaoyang District, where citizens’ ’empty protest’ was held. Police were also seen gathering around the river. However, unlike immediately after the protest, the police did not check citizens or restrict passage. Citizens were also silent. The police continued to patrol the promenade around the stream, but the citizens who came out for a walk did not care and were enjoying a relaxed weekend afternoon.
The anti-Corona protests, which seemed to have spread throughout China at the end of last month, have subsided quickly in a week. Not only in Beijing, but also in other big cities like Shanghai, there was no news of new protests over the weekend. It is interpreted that the reason for the protests has weakened greatly as the authorities have strengthened censorship and control in preparation for the possibility of protests and significantly eased quarantine measures.
Some predict that the commemoration of former President Jang, to be held on the 6th, could be another turning point for the empty protests, but it seems unlikely that the enthusiasm for commemoration, which focuses on online, leading to new street protests. After the death of former President Zhang, the Chinese authorities created an atmosphere of great commemoration, but they did not create an offline memorial space where ordinary citizens could gather. The Wall Street Journal said, “In a week after protests against Corona 19’s zero-tolerance rule began across China, the authorities’ two-pronged strategy restored calm to the streets amid tension.” This was interpreted as a result of intensive use of the system by the police on site and sending the ‘whip’ to look for protesters.
Police are patrolling the 3rd promenade around Liangmahe, Chaoyang District, Beijing, where the ’empty protest’ took place. Beijing｜ Correspondent Lee Jong-seop
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