What It’s Like Inside One of China’s Protests

China's widespread protests against the government's zero-COVID policy are examined, revealing the underlying frustrations and the government's dilemma. The protests, sparked by a deadly fire in Urumqi and fueled by extensive lockdowns, represent the most significant unrest since 1989. Vivian Wang, reporting from Beijing, describes the shift from mourning to political demands, including calls for freedom and the end of censorship, symbolized by protesters holding blank white paper. The discussion highlights how zero-COVID, initially successful, became a symbol of the Chinese Communist Party's superiority under Xi Jinping, but increasingly invasive measures and economic tolls have led to widespread discontent, challenging the unspoken agreement of economic growth in exchange for civil liberties.