Issue 2: October-December 2022

In the Fall of 2022, China witnessed several days of protests across the country that captured the world’s attention. Many news reports characterized the movement as a sudden explosion of popular dissent, however, the second edition of the China Dissent Monitor shows that this movement built over a period of months through decentralized protests against zero-COVID policies.

Highlights:

From October to December 2022:

253 dissent events were documented, including 137 cases of dissent against COVID-19 pandemic rules between October and November—reflecting a rising wave throughout the autumn.
Analysis indicates that relative to other dissent, lockdown protests were larger, more likely to challenge the government, and more likely to result in arrests.
CDM data suggests a relative decrease in protests around the period of the 20th Party Congress in October, when Xi Jinping began his third term as Chinese Communist Party (CCP) head.
There is direct evidence of authorities detaining or arresting protesters, reflecting the significant risks faced by people who engage in public dissent.
The protests were led by diverse groups, but the risk of detention is higher for certain groups that face targeted persecution, including faith groups.
State authorities made some concessions, especially with anti-lockdown protests, revising policies or acknowledging protesters’ grievances.