Protesters Called "Hostile Forces" by China... "Must Crack Down on Disorderly Crimes"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Kim Hyunjung] As protests against the zero-COVID policy are spreading across China, a senior official from the public security authorities made remarks seemingly viewing these protests as an "infiltration by hostile forces."

According to local media including Xinhua News Agency on the 30th, Chen Yuanching, Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, presided over a plenary meeting on the 28th and stated, "We must crack down on infiltration and sabotage activities by hostile forces according to the law, and suppress illegal crimes that disrupt social order to effectively safeguard overall social security."

The Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission oversees the work of political and legal institutions such as public security, intelligence agencies, courts, and prosecutors. Chen, a former police officer, served as Minister of State Security from 2016 until recently, and following the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party, he was appointed as the commander of public security and political-legal organizations.

At the meeting, Chen emphasized, "We must uphold a 'people-centered' approach, enhance political stature, and continuously improve political judgment, understanding, and execution capabilities," adding, "Conflicts and disputes should be resolved promptly, and the real difficulties of the people must be addressed." He further stated, "Major accidents must be resolutely prevented, and people's lives and safety must be guaranteed."

Although not directly mentioned at the meeting, these remarks are interpreted as a warning targeting the large-scale protests that recently occurred in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

Earlier, on the 24th, a fire accident in an apartment in Urumqi, Xinjiang, resulted in 10 deaths, amid suspicions that rescue efforts were delayed due to structures installed for quarantine around the apartment. In response, students and citizens have been resisting the government's large-scale lockdown policy and continuing protests opposing it in various locations.