The United States defended the right to protest in China Monday as demonstrations swept the country over Covid-19 lockdowns, and suggested Beijing could ease its restrictions.
“We’ve long said everyone has the right to peacefully protest, here in the United States and around the world. This includes in the People’s Republic of China,” the State Department said in an emailed statement.
The department suggested the United States viewed China’s Covid lockdown policies as excessive.
“We’ve said that zero Covid is not a policy we are pursuing here in the United States,” the department said.
“We think it’s going to be very difficult for the People’s Republic of China to be able to contain this virus through their zero Covid strategy.”
Washington, the State Department said, is “focused on what works” including expanding vaccinations and boosters, and making testing and treatment easily accessible.
Since late last week people have taken to the streets in major Chinese cities and on university campuses in a wave of protests not seen since pro-democracy rallies in 1989 were crushed.
