Editor's Pick: China’s anti-lockdown protests intensify, spread to universities

Dear reader, We have now made it easier for you to manage your The Hindu newsletter subscriptions in one place! 1. Visit The Hindu newsletters page here 2. Click MANAGE tab and then click LOGIN / SIGN UP 3. If you don’t have an account with The Hindu, please click SIGN UP OR If you already have an account with The Hindu with this email ID, please login using the email ID Protests in China against the government’s harsh COVID-19 lockdown measures continued to intensify over the weekend, spreading to dozens of university campuses around the country in an unprecedented challenge to the Communist Party, on a scale unseen in decades. Triggered by widespread anger at the death of at least 10 people in a fire in an apartment in Urumqi, with delays in extinguishing the blaze widely seen by the public as a result of lockdown policies, the protests have coincided with a record outbreak of COVID cases across China in recent days, which have brought fresh lockdowns. The National Health Commission on Sunday reported more than 39,500 cases, the highest since the pandemic began. Protests this weekend spread to more than 50 Chinese college campuses, according to a list shared online and dozens of protest videos shared on social media. Late on Saturday night, crowds gathered in Shanghai to mourn the victims of the fire. Videos on social media showed protesters calling for an end to lockdowns and mass testing. Some raised slogans against Mr. Xi and the ruling Communist Party. Several hundred people gathered in Beijing on Sunday night for a rare protest. In the elite Tsinghua University in the heart of the Chinese capital—Mr. Xi’s alma mater—students gathered on Sunday, chanting: “We need democracy, rule of law, and freedom of expression!” “We haven’t seen scenes like this since 1989,” a Chinese journalist told The Hindu. While local-level protests against issues ranging from land grabs to environmental pollution are not uncommon, what is now unprecedented is a national-level protest on the same issue, and carried out in direct opposition to a central government policy. Only last month, Mr. Xi defended the zero-COVID policy at the Party Congress that marked the start of his third term. The Hindu’s Editorials Transfers unexplained: On the transfer of High Court judges A new era: On Anwar Ibrahim The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Constitution Day this week, highlighted the role of women in the Constituent Assembly (the body that drafted the Constitution). How many women were there in the Constituent Assembly? 32 24 15 12 To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 28 NOVEMBER 2022 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( China’s anti-lockdown protests intensify, spread to universities Dear reader, We have now made it easier for you to manage your The Hindu newsletter subscriptions in one place! 1. Visit The Hindu newsletters page [here]( 2. Click MANAGE tab and then click LOGIN / SIGN UP 3. If you don’t have an account with The Hindu, please click SIGN UP OR If you already have an account with The Hindu with this email ID, please login using the email ID [Protests in China against the government]( harsh COVID-19 lockdown measures continued to intensify over the weekend, spreading to dozens of university campuses around the country in an unprecedented challenge to the Communist Party, on [a scale unseen in decades](. Triggered by widespread anger at the [death of at least 10 people in a fire]( in an apartment in Urumqi, with delays in extinguishing the blaze widely seen by the public as a[result of lockdown policies]( the protests have coincided with a record outbreak of COVID cases across China in recent days, which have brought fresh lockdowns. The National Health Commission on Sunday reported more than 39,500 cases, the highest since the pandemic began. Protests this weekend [spread to more than 50 Chinese college campuses]( according to a list shared online and dozens of protest videos shared on social media. Late on Saturday night, crowds gathered in Shanghai to mourn the victims of the fire. Videos on social media showed protesters calling for an end to lockdowns and mass testing. Some raised slogans against Mr. Xi and the ruling Communist Party. Several hundred people gathered in Beijing on Sunday night for a rare protest. In the elite Tsinghua University in the heart of the Chinese capital—Mr. Xi’s alma mater—students gathered on Sunday, chanting: “We need democracy, rule of law, and freedom of expression!” “We haven’t seen scenes like this since 1989,” a Chinese journalist told The Hindu. While local-level protests against issues ranging from land grabs to environmental pollution are not uncommon, what is now unprecedented is a national-level protest on the same issue, and carried out in direct opposition to a central government policy. Only last month, [Mr. Xi defended the zero-COVID policy]( the Party Congress that marked the start of his third term. The Hindu’s Editorials [Transfers unexplained: On the transfer of High Court judges]( [A new era: On Anwar IbrahimÂ]( The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Constitution Day this week, highlighted the role of women in the Constituent Assembly (the body that drafted the Constitution). How many women were there in the Constituent Assembly? - 32 - 24 - 15 - 12 To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here.]( Today’s Best Reads [[P.T. Usha set to get elected as IOA chief, first woman occupant of top job] P.T. Usha set to get elected as IOA chief, first woman occupant of top job]( [[FIFA World Cup 2022 | Germany salvages 1-1 draw with Spain] FIFA World Cup 2022 | Germany salvages 1-1 draw with Spain]( [[Shashi Tharoor’s political ambitions can put the Congress on test] Shashi Tharoor’s political ambitions can put the Congress on test]( [[Why is sleep important?] Why is sleep important?]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. If you are facing any trouble in viewing this newsletter, please [try here]( If you do not wish to receive such emails [go here](