US Secretary of State: "Crackdown on Peaceful Protests Signals China's Weakness"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken criticized the Chinese authorities' crackdown on peaceful protests in China as a "sign of weakness, not strength." This remark came amid criticism that the U.S. government's response to the nationwide protests and the Chinese authorities' harsh suppression has been lukewarm.

In an interview with NBC News on the 30th (local time), Secretary Blinken said, "We see governments that take repressive measures to stop those who are trying to raise their voices, hold peaceful protests, and express frustrations about any issue."

He described the Chinese government's efforts to suppress protesters as "not a sign of strength, but a sign of weakness," emphasizing that governments that try to suppress peaceful protests through coercive measures are merely powers that lack the trust of their people.

In major cities including Beijing, slogans such as "Xi Jinping step down" have appeared, reflecting the anger of the Chinese people spreading into anti-Xi Jinping protests, which some interpret as evidence that China's control system has become vulnerable.

He stated, "The zero-COVID policy we see in China is not what we want to do," adding, "We focus on ensuring that people receive effective and safe vaccines, and that they have access to testing and proven effective treatments."

He pointed out, "China needs to find ways to move forward that not only meet public health needs but also help meet people's needs." He added, "We cannot solve that for them."

When asked whether the protests in China might lead to a weakening of President Xi Jinping's power, he avoided a direct answer, saying, "I cannot say what this means for his position."

This statement came amid criticism that the U.S. government's response to the nationwide protests and the Chinese authorities' harsh crackdown has been lukewarm.

John Kirby, White House National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications, said in a virtual briefing that when asked if the U.S. response to the situation in China seemed cautious, "We have consistently supported the right to peaceful protest in this way," adding, "It is consistent with past practice and certainly a cautious approach."

Coordinator Kirby said, "This is how we have approached such issues elsewhere around the world."

He added, "We do not speak for protesters, but regardless of the country they live in, we will continue to raise our voices for the rights to peaceful protest and free assembly and the ability of men and women worldwide," emphasizing, "People should be able to express their views peacefully without threats, fear, or violence." He reiterated, "We will always stand with peaceful protesters and have consistently done so."

The U.S. government has previously expressed support for peaceful protests related to the Chinese protests, emphasizing the right to peaceful assembly and stating that lockdown policies are unrealistic.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.