“As we have said, we think it will be very difficult for the People’s Republic of China to be able to contain this virus through its Zero COVID strategy,” the spokesperson said in the statement. were more useful. “We have long said that everyone has the right to protest peacefully, here in the United States and around the world. This includes PRC.
As of midday Monday in Washington, the number of protesters in Beijing and Shanghai had dwindled over the previous 24 hours. But news of demonstrations is spreading Hangzhou City indicated on Monday that authorities have yet to quell the anger – which includes calls to end Xi’s leadership – that has brought people to the streets.
Biden’s allies are well aware that protest movements can be unpredictable. Protests are not uncommon in China, but they are often limited in scope and location, and the Chinese Communist Party tends to move quickly to quell anything it sees as a serious challenge to its authority. Is.
A US official familiar with the issue, who spoke on condition of anonymity for this story to discuss internal deliberations like others, said the Biden administration would consider several factors in deciding how to respond. Had to do. A harsh US statement, for example, could lead the Chinese government to allege “foreign interference” instead of focusing on the United States and addressing the protesters’ frustration.
Despite the acrimony, the United States still seeks to maintain a base level of stability and cooperation with China, an important global power and economic partner, whose help it seeks on everything from pandemic preparation to battling climate change.
Biden team’s response to China protests will likely be the opposite Quick and vocal support at the highest level for the protests in Iran, which has been running since mid-September. But Iran is more and more a regional power whose Islamist regime has been an open enemy of the US for more than 40 years, and there is little trade or other cooperation between the two countries.
The US official said US government officials are still closely watching developments in China – including how the government treats journalists covering the protests – and how they should respond. engaged in regular interoperability consultations.
The conversation includes health officials from the Biden administration, who as recently as Monday were sharing their assessments of the COVID-19 situation in China with the NSC, including debate about the extent to which the virus has spread throughout the country. may spread. The rising number of Covid infections in China suggests the virus has outpaced the current lockdown strategy and Beijing may need to impose even tighter restrictions in the coming days, according to a person with direct knowledge of those conversations. With knowledge
A spokeswoman for the NSC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the health concerns.
A US official familiar with the issue said the initial messaging on the protests, which the NSC initiated, was somewhat complicated by the Thanksgiving holiday. “It is not for the United States of America to comment on the protests. It is for the protesters,” said the official.
In an apparent response to the protests, the Chinese authorities have announced some minor changes to their zero-covid strategy. For example, Beijing officials said they would not put up gates to block access to housing developments where infections had been found. but, according to media reports In detailing the changes, there was no indication that the Communist leadership was backing away from the overall strategy, which aimed to isolate each infected person to prevent community outbreaks that would otherwise overwhelm the Chinese medical system. Could spread and influence.
Xi has wielded extraordinary power in China, suppressing dissent along the way. His leadership was confirmed last month during the Communist Party’s congress held every five years. Any Chinese protesters calling for his departure was surprising. During that party meeting, Xi stresses his continued support for the zero-covid policy,
US Embassy in Beijing issued amid protests a covid-centric statement Reassuring American citizens in China that their safety is its top priority. It encouraged them to “keep a 14-day supply of medicines, bottled water and food for themselves and any members of their household.”
In recent weeks, US and European officials have discussed whether and how to share vaccines with Beijing. This month, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a deal to let German expatriates in China access mRNA BioNTech shots. In turn, Scholz said he would support regulatory approval of Chinese vaccines in the European Union. China has not approved any mRNA vaccines for use in the country and has instead relied on its own shot, which has not been effective in controlling infection rates.
As news of the protests spread online, evading Chinese censors, some US lawmakers made bold claims. Republicans have appeared most vocal, although there is broad bipartisan opposition to Beijing in Congress.
“The people of China are pushing back against Xi’s authoritarian regime and the #CCP. Americans everywhere stand with you in solidarity… China’s independence!” Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-ill.) tweeted.
“The CCP is an evil regime,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn tweeted (R-Tenn.) “The ongoing protests in Communist China show that the Chinese people are crying out for change.”
Protests have taken place in major urban centers including Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, Chengdu and Xi’an.
Chinese security forces have deployed heavily to the protest sites, but have so far responded to the protests with relative restraint. Police have called on protesters to disperse and in Shanghai on Sunday started detaining protesters Who stood at the main intersections of the city. the police also have put up high barriers on selected streets in Shanghai to prevent protesters from returning.
Chinese security forces were categorically against foreign media coverage of the demonstrations. shanghai police beaten, handcuffed and briefly detained BBC journalist Ed Lawrence made a video of the protesters on Sunday. Police later said that he did it “for his own good, in case he caught Covid from the crowd.” Foreign Correspondents Club of China said in a statement on monday It was “extremely troubled” by foreign media being targeted by police at the protests.
The Chinese government is avoiding commenting directly on the protests. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian monday knowledge denied The protesters are demanding Xi’s resignation.
Zhao accusedpowers with ulterior motives“To link the deadly Xinjiang fire with public anger about zero-Covid protocols. Chinese Foreign Ministry provoked those questions and reactions From its daily news briefing transcript.
Erin Banko and Kelly Hooper contributed to this report.