The White House issued a statement this morning on China’s nationwide protests against Beijing’s brutal zero-Covid policy, CBS reported. It’s the first statement by Biden administration officials since the outset of the demonstrations.
The protests erupted this weekend after at least ten people were killed in a building fire in Urumqi, Xinjiang. Residents of the building were reportedly unable to evacuate the building since exits were blocked, pursuant to stringent Covid lockdown restrictions.
Biden administration officials did not address the fire or the protests this weekend, as peaceful demonstrators squared off against police in cities across China.
In the statement issued to CBS, the White House said, “We think it’s going to be very difficult for the People’s Republic of China to be able to contain the virus through their zero COVID strategy.”
“We’ve long said everyone has the right to peacefully protest, here in the United States and around the world,” the statement continued. “This includes in the PRC.”
New statement out from the White House as protests break out in China over the governments zero COVID policies pic.twitter.com/fRA8R6Se7N
— Kristin Brown (@kristincbrown) November 28, 2022