Reflecting on China's Defiant Protests: One Year Later

One year after the White Paper protests in China, participants reflect on the brief moment of defiance against the Communist Party's authority. The protests, sparked by anger over the country's harsh COVID-19 controls, were quickly suppressed by the state, leading to arrests and threats. Many of the young protesters are now contemplating their next steps, with some choosing to document the events from exile. The government's crackdown on dissent has intensified, with ongoing harassment of participants and their families. Despite the protests not resulting in lasting political change, they shattered the illusion of China's unstoppable rise and exposed the fragility of the state's control.