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Subscribe to RSSBEIJING -- Let us be clear from the start: this is not a blog post about a would-be revolution.
It’s about the demonstration of state power in a police state.
Today was the second Sunday in a row of an unspecified number of mass gatherings anonymously called across the country to protest against the Chinese government and some of its policies.
At 2 p.m. local time, ordinary people were urged “to take an afternoon stroll” to show solidarity. “As long as you are present, the authoritarian government will be shaking with fear,” says the call for “Jasmine Rallies” circulating online.
In Beijing, the location was a McDonald's in the busy shopping district of Wangfujing. But just hours before the scheduled hour, rumours surfaced that the designation had been changed to a KFC a few storefronts north of the McDonald's.
This may have been due to the overnight appearance on Friday of a construction site that surrounded the original site. Wooden walls barricading some mysterious edifice took up half of the street, severely limiting traffic.
By Adrienne Mong/NBC News
Water cannon truck parks itself outside the KFC before the rally was due to begin at 2 p.m. local.
Today, we turned up in Wangfujing early and were immediately confronted with a massive police turnout. Uniformed and plainclothes officers populated the main thoroughfare every few feet. Inside the shops and malls were small groups of local community police volunteers with red armbands.
Rows of police vehicles — vans and sedans — were parked on side streets running off the main strip. At least a handful of large buses — both the tourist kind and the type used by city transport — sat next to the vehicles or on Wangfujing. We guessed they would serve as paddy wagons should things get out of hand.
It turns out the only thing that got out of hand was the security.
This was the heaviest police presence we'd seen in the capital since the 2008 Summer Olympics, and even this seemed to rival the overtly public scale of what was on display three years ago.
A shadowy detail
The designated KFC was on the first floor above ground, and there were large windows overlooking Wangfujing. We entered to eat lunch.
Tables alongside the window were occupied by plainclothes police, some carrying tourist camera bags, but all of them wearing some sort of earpiece — the telltale curly white wire running down their necks.
By Adrienne Mong/NBC News
Plainclothes security sit inside the KFC overlooking Wangfujing. Spot the earpiece on the man to the left.
One table began filming us as we stood nearby, eating at a counter.
The same group filming us followed us out of the restaurant and onto the street. They even entered the same café we dropped into to buy some coffee. One man, in a bright red anorak, stood out; his constant companion was a small digital video camera.
By now, fellow journalists we recognized were appearing and being checked for IDs. The police were taking no chances. They even stopped a western couple with two small children.
Pairs of uniformed police with large German shepherds on muzzles patrolled the street.
Three water trucks pulled up outside of the KFC entrance.
In the meantime, the 3G signal on my Blackberry was acting up. I could no longer receive/send emails or tweet (using hashtag #CN227 for today's date). China Mobile, a major state-owned telecoms company, kept our handsets firmly on GMS, which permitted only phone calls and text messages. China Unicom, another state-owned telecoms company, only had SOS service.
Flooding the zone
By Adrienne Mong/NBC News
More plainclothes police with earpieces sit inside a cafe.
Two o’clock came and went.
The water trucks were joined by one more. They began driving up and down the length of south Wangfujing, spraying the road and, more significantly, clearing it of pedestrians.
No one was allowed to loiter for long. Police regularly pushed people along, sometimes politely, sometimes roughly, but always saying the same thing, “Move along, move along, don’t stop here, you’re interfering with traffic flow.”
As two o’clock got further away, however, the authorities became more aggressive.
A police tape went up on the street south of McDonald’s. The authorities checked Chinese people for IDs now, too; they appeared to be singling out young men with backpacks—anyone who looked like a student, perhaps a likely participant in the Jasmine rally?
Journalists were prevented from filming. Anyone with a camera was suspect. Professional cameras were confiscated or their owners barred from entering. A handful of journalists were roughed up.
We saw a scrum and tried to see what was happening. Stephen Engle, an American reporter with Bloomberg TV, was being shoved and pushed by the police. When he fell to the ground and shouted for help, we tried to approach. We were immediately bundled away — dozens of police turned us around and pushed us down the street. Large men, in down jackets and tracksuit pants, individually began bumping into people, like pinballs, keeping them away. (Engle was reported to be still in police custody at the time of this posting but planning to go to the hospital tonight.)
Bystanders confused
Even the street cleaners, in their neon-colored vests, got in on the act. One of them used his broom to sweep at the feet of my colleague, cameraman David Lom, to keep him off-balance when he tried to film and to drive him away.
Ordinary Chinese were bewildered. “What’s going on? Why can’t we walk here?” they asked.
By Adrienne Mong/NBC News
Passersby take photos of the police dogs, normally an unusual sight in an ordinary shopping district like Wangfujing.
Some were more belligerent. One woman started shouting, “Why can’t I go down here? Why are you stopping me? Stop pushing.”
Others tried to work out the reasons for security by identifying the authorities. “These are ordinary police [Public Security police], not wujing (People’s Armed Police),” said one man.
But he was wrong. The wujing were there, too.
What looked like a handful of squads of PAP troops marched in formation past the water trucks outside the KFC and McDonald’s.
Around three o’clock, the authorities had stopped traffic altogether on the southern end of Wangfujing, right where it abuts with Chang’An Road — where the People’s Liberation Army drove its tanks down toward Tiananmen Square in 1989 to crush the student protests.
Crowds were building at this end, behind police tape and police.
And then suddenly they were free to go.
What is remarkable is, at the end of the day, no recognizable protest took place in Wangfujing.
Click here for details on the security crackdown elsewhere in China.
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Even though I am not part of the majority in my own country of birth I hope to see one day my children and all children in any country grow into adulthood with recognition that all people of any color, language, or culture deserve all equal rights. The growth of a country should not be measured only by economic numbers but by the key difference that all its people are treated fair in any private, public or government situation.
Some media outlets may be proclaiming "revolution" perhaps only because the protesters are claiming it to be so. However correct or incorrect it may be claiming "revolution" withholding such information maybe considered necessary but is not conducive to the point of view of the world as a whole today. Through an open mind one should not view this as a problem for each individual but rather growth for the betterment of all peoples in any country.
The Point I am trying to bring across is that at least to me people are more important than any economic numbers.
let's worry about our own problems here - I mean big problems here, instead of getting excited about a few people marching in China.
This article points out the reason why a lot of Chinese would rather live in U.S. or U.K. than over there.
Wrong! People would like to live US or UK because it is easier to find good jobs and there are rich natural resources.
China puts on a show of force to block rally via @msnbc If China has reached the level of prosperity that is has by now, it has been because hasn't allowed the bunch of Barnye Maddoffs we have in the US. The Chinesse Gov. it's only making sure that the so called "Democracy" doesn't turn one day in a mass corruption frenzy like the one we have become. China by now is the symbol of a very well organized society, in which no one abuse no one, and where the rights of one end on the other's begin, that the only way should be, for peace, harmony and prosperity in the most balanced equality possible. 40 millions of Americans are for now living below the poverty line and there's hungry in this country, while as always a few enjoy extreme wealth and well being. Such panorama it's totally unacceptable by today standards . . . is that the way democracy suppose to be???? . . . our moral principles are in the floor, our education is one the worst in the world, our levels of prostitution and drug-addiction is one the worst problems for ourselves as for many other countries in our own neighborhood, where daily massacres are fulled by our tremendous drug consumption-market, our very young population is being destroyed before our very eyes and a rampant degeneration is taking us over as a society, etc. etc. etc. ... does any body think the Chinese vast population want that !??? . . . even the most underdeveloped countries in the world have taken example of what happen under our twisted interpretations of "Democracy" and "Freedom". Their response has been the election of moderate leftist governments, with a big sense of responsibility and vision toward the future, therefore, along with new economics and social developments, also govern with law and order, so not to fall into what we have fallen. So good for the chinese!, . . . so they will continue their grow and advance into the next decade and soon for sure will become the first world economic power.Therefore, Democracy-Capitalism under our twisted version, should never be adopted by any country. The only possible way out for the world is Socialism.
Kinda sounds like the Arizona state republican government
Who are you kidding? The socialist type government is alot closer to what Obama is trying to do that conservative Republicans!!
Who are you kidding johnnyn the conservative republicans are pissed that they cant do that in wisconsin ,Obama never sent the state troopers out looking for political opponents your boy scott walker did, Obama never did anything to stop a peaceable assembly of the people scott walker is doing everything he can think of to get the demonstrators to leave including considering planting violent people in a peaceful crowd can you show me one instance where obama tried to stop a peaceable assembly left or right or tea party. How about conservatives placing troopers outside polling places in minority neighborhoods. Dude this the kind ouf thing that the right wishes the could do every day its their goal
The lowlife liberal Democrats slip out of state to avoid a quorum, the Republicans could have done the same on Obamacare but they have to much CLASS !!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS ?
this is not about freedom this about american companies paying the chinese to enforce a communist system that is bent on destroying the american way of life for middle class americans. You see for over fifty years we hated the communist but now the communist provide slave labor for american companies to make huge profits. The worst part is that these american companies have for all intense purpose have become chinese companies but retain there american interest to lobby for free trade with china at the expence of the american workers. China is performing economic warfare agaist the american people with the help of american corporations. I suppose the obama administration will be mum on this since they are depending on these supporters of slave labor to reelect them in 2012
I agree, the Chinese have been stealing our technology for years and nobody does anything to slow them down. The fault lies in both parties but our car makers, heavy equipment manufacturers etc. all went there to compete or close down, It's not right but forcing them to stay here might not be the answer.
Well Said! If I can digress slightly....in addition tothe Chinese waging economic warfare against the American people relative to US corporate greed offshoring manufacturing for increased Profits, let's make no mistake that China is waging more than just that. They are currently using all of thiscash from coporate America to fund their military build up, while at the same time stealing sensitive US military technologies on a daily basis through hacking into the DoD, and other major defense contractors. China is not our friend, as most of the public would like to beleive. My question is this, why does the US gov't allow China to steal, hack, set back door Cyber traps (Richard Clark "CYBER WARFARE"), as well as produce tainted poisonous children toys coated with Cadmium, and lead--directly destroying US children's brain development--while all this is going, and allow US companies to continue to help develop China's economy? We are at war here and I am appald that no one cares, mainly with our Gov't "Johnnyg33710" must be right on the money. The lobbyest are swaiding the decision makers, while giving them a corporate rate cut of the pie to keep them quiet I am sure......if this persists, we're doomed. Do your country a favor, and stop buying Chinese made crap. Next time you're anywhere shopping check the made in tag, if it says China, put it back and chose another country....
Not simple.
Remember "blooming Germany" under Hitler, and "Growing Chilean economy" under Pinochet..?
Prosperity under indignity, however disguised is dangerous, and painful in the end. Respect for others, and accountability of those in power is necessary to prevent abuse, be it US Republican, Egyptian, Lybian, Iranian, or Chinese style ..........
Look out Ho Fat Chow Dung! They sucked the U.S. dry and they'll be coming for you soon.
Nice try, Lange, but your chinese/Jedi mind tricks don't work on most people. Try to sell your ware's someplace else.
You are brainwashed!!!
he's brainwashed?i don't think so.take a long look in the mirror then see who is staring back and then tell me whose brainwashed.certainly not him sunshine.
American media just love stirring up drama, then they are conveniently at the site of the drama to sell their stories, like job security. Why was American media not reporting on the huge demonstrations against the Iraq war in major American cities like Los Angeles. I have an answer, and it is not complimentary of the media.
Hmmmm... Do I have to enter it AGAIN...?
I said something like:
Not simple.
Remember the "blooming Germany" under Hitler, "the Spanish miracle" under Franco or the "growing Chilean economy" under Pinochet? Prosperity under indignity, and uaccountable power can bring iimediate results, but can also cause great pain in the long run, be it of the Nazi, Chilean, US Republican, Egyptian, Lybian, Iranian, or Chinese style ......
We have always wanted the German and Chinese people to prosper, but not at the expense of their dignity or perhaps eventually their lives or that of others.
NOT SIMPLE ......
Imagine what would happen to all of those American corporate investments in China if the Chinese people realized that they were getting shafted and decided to stand-up for themselves like the people of Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia? Imagine what would happen if the Chinese people went on strike demanding that their pay be doubled or tripled with a great improvement to working conditions and worker's rights? Imagine what would happen if the Chinese people wanted to join a union like Solidarity in Poland?
It might continue to work in the short-term to treat the Chinese as poorly as we have been doing, but I am starting to smell a rat there too. Maybe we had better fork-over some concessions before things get out of hand there?
China is not the Middle East. You can't expect democracy in a country with a population of 1.3 billion people. The change has to be a gradual integration towards democracy. Which I think China will eventually become. But to have these trifle "protests" hardly means anything as it's pretty obvious it's going to be turned down by the government. If the Chinese people are really unsatisfied with their government, they could have easily overthrown it. in terms of freedom of speech. Come on... United States shut down wikileaks, does that make the United States government a exemplar of free speech? We as Americans needs to be better informed about the overall situation on Sino-US relations. We owe China 1 Trillion dollars, that's the hard fact. But the Chinese economy would also collapse if it wasn't for the big spending economy we have in the States. It's also very ignorant of us still turning to McCarthism of the 50's when we refer to China as "Communist" or "Commie". Communism had its time in the world and the only country that's close to be considered as communist is probably North Korea( though it's more of a dictatorship) China is now considered a socialist country controlled by the top oligarchical bureaucrats of the country. It's making efforts towards democracy, China believe it or not has a People's congress, although not nearly as democratic as that of the US, at least it's taking steps towards democratic representation in doing so. So I say to the Americans, stop blindly bashing China with only the ignorant and biased knowledge you know from the textbooks and the media. To the Chinese, tone down on the blind patriotism without figuring out both side of the issue. In the end, let China be...
For all of you Americans (including me) that want to see freedom in China, freedom of expression, freedom of religion and so forth and so on, forget it. Look at the problems we Americans have here. They are endless. Consider: abortion rights, birthers, witches (Odonell and crowd), right of gun ownership, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, a black President whose greatest contribution to our society has shown the deep hatred and bigotry that exists in our "great democracy", a nation on the verge of bankruptcy, immigration problems where a solution seems all but impossible, deep divisions between the Republicans and Democrats over healthcare...(some or many don't want it????) and, well I think I'm making my point. Some literary giant said "the pople get the government they deserve." Winston Churchill referred to our government as "the damnest system that works." We are a country of what...300 million and counting. I believe we do a great job governing considering all of the problems we are facing and all of the different nationalities that call America their home. Imagine China being a free country with over 3 billion people all with different ideas on how China should be governed. Imagine the NRA having the great power they have here having the same power in China. Or the ACLU having the same power they have here taking up grievances in China. I'm siding with the guy who said the people get the government they deserve. And I believe I am right. A communist nation they are, intolerant of any open display of religion (man's worst enemy), intolerant of freedom of expression etc., they are in case you are not aware, the number (1) economic power in the world with no terrotorial expansion ambitions and under the crushing burden of three billion people to feed, do quite well.
Captain Ramius: Once more, we play our dangerous game, a game of chess against our old adversary
- The American Navy. For forty years, your fathers before you and your older brothers played this game and played it well. But today the game is different. We have the advantage.
- Soviet Sub Commander, Potemkin, Hunt for Red October
We put down there government and at the same time we make them stronger when you purchase there products at Walmart. You cant have it both ways either you support communism are you don't what is it going to be? In ten years they will be the worlds strongest economy thanks to the good old USA .
i don't purchase their crappy products at Walmart. their products suck!
The Chinese people will eventually have the right to vote for their government leaders. An army consisting of 2.5 million soldiers cannot stop over one billion severely pissed off citizens. It's only a matter of time.
The thing that really pisses me off is that corporations from all Western nations trip over themselves to get the cheapest labor and products available. Western consumers also go out of their way to buy the cheapest products available, even if it means the loss of millions of American jobs. If Western nations would trade among themselves they could create tens of millions of new jobs and once again be the industrial giants they were in the past. It would also put an end to the export based Chinese economy, which would put hundreds of millions of Chinese workers out of a job, which would basically cause the overthrow of the current Chinese communist government.
Don't confuse the majority of Chinese citizens, who are really very good people, with the Chinese communist government.
like i've been saying right along hate that governemnt but love the people.your statement about corporations selling out.EXACTLY!Greed is the driving force at any old cost even if it mean s bringing down the country economically by exporting jobs for cheap labor.
you're also right about western n ations trading among themselves.o'd love to see that government go down in my life time.the bigger they are the harder they fall.
Now let's all run out to WalMart and try to find something "Made in America"!
Fascists work both sides of the aisle. If it's money, its' fascist. WE effectively have one party. Dempugbags.
Later: This comment was a reply comentary to someone above, but this fine technology ended it up here.
Thanks to Washington and politicians that gain from China trade, we have empowered this totalitarian Nation. There should be a 25% import tax on all Chinese goods until we repay our debt to them. Then, it should be see you later.
Blocking protests in China is JUST AS AWFUL AS DOING IT IN LIBYA!
MFN Status should be stricken from the relationship the US has with China!!!!!
In this new age of the global economy, there are no absolutes.
We the United States absolutely do not engage in business, trade, or borrow from a country that absolutely will not allow its citizens the very freedoms that are a person's God given Inalienable right.
I am praying for the people of China. May they find their voice, and find their way to freedom, the way God intended for all people to live.
The rise of the youth of the world, and the rise of walking the walk. Incredible that they have grabbed on to the hem tail of democracy and freedom. May God Bless your nation, and raise up Godly, brave people.
and the people are starting to wake ! you smell ? is coming ! you rats run run run !
the snow drops are starting to bloom !
This is something I thought about USSR for a long time, similarly with China, anyplace really.
I'm not terribly surprised that the Chinese patriots read very much like the US right wingers, with their ''lazy bum complainers and layabouts.''
On the subject of ''patriot'', we have laws associated with that name that make US more like the totalitarian Chinese state that is so readily denigrated.
At every turn we have less and less of those freedom things that are trumpeted as our superior moral state.
There are a large number of cannabis users in this country who have been denied their right to petition the government for a redress of greivances. Just an example.
When we stop subjugating groups of people who are not acceptable to our government then maybe I can listen to you bitch about another country doing the same thing.
All 1.5 Billions of Chinese Citizens are much much more powerful than the small numbers of the Bloody and Criminal Dictatorial Communist Regime!
All 1.5 Billons Chinese can EASILY CRUSH ALL DICTATORS AND THEIR MURDEROUS KILLERS!
Including Bush and Cheney and any murderous Americans