Anti-communist and anti-Xi Jinping slogans and protests have appeared across China with increasing frequency, including Henan, Beijing, Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, and other cities, in what analysts call a sign of growing discontent with the current Chinese system.

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Anti-communist and anti-Xi Jinping (習近平) slogans have appeared across China with increasing frequency, gaining public attention. On November 3rd, a popular account on X posted a video of banners hung from a bridge in Liaocheng, Shandong Province, saying “The CCP isn’t China, the CCP is an evil cult”. Netizens' reactions ranged from shocked to jaded, agreeing that demonstrations were on the rise.

Similar events have occurred in multiple cities in recent months. Per the same X account, banners also appeared in Suiping County, in Henan Province, calling for the eradication of the CCP, Xi to step down, and restoration of internet and speech freedoms. Another sign outside of a police station read “Xi step down, stop organ harvesting, end dictatorial tyranny.”

Last month, a rare protest took place on the streets of Beijing, involving a man using a megaphone to address the crowd in a busy area. Beside him were two banners calling the CCP an anti-humanity cult, and calling for reform, including the formation of different political parties, and the option to establish a new China based on “freedom, humanity, and the rule of law”. The protestor was quickly removed by security personnel without explanation from the authorities.

In another case, a man in Kunming, Yunnan, held up a white banner reading “Xi Jinping step down” in front of the Anti-Japanese War Victory Memorial Hall in August. His whereabouts remain unclear, although a five-second video of the incident circulated online. 

In April, 27-year-old Mei Shilin (梅世林) hung a banner on a pedestrian overpass in Chengdu, Sichuan, claiming “China doesn’t need anyone to point the way, democracy is the way.” Reports indicate he was immediately detained. In addition to these demonstrations, there was the protest by Qi Hong (戚洪) in September, where the words “Overthrow the CCP” were projected onto a building in Chongqing University Town for 50 minutes. 

Observers note these sporadic events are a continuation of the 2022 Sitong Bridge protest, when Peng Lifa (彭立發) unfurled banners in Beijing declaring “We want votes, not leaders,” on the eve of the 20th National Congress of the CCP. Peng was immediately arrested and is now reportedly serving a nine-year sentence following a two-year holding period for “picking fights, provoking trouble, and arson,” although such claims have not been officially confirmed. Still, Peng’s actions became one of the most symbolic protests in years, galvanizing citizens to express their own discontent through slogans, projections, and banners.

Regardless of where in China or what method they employed, every protest is a risk to those daring to challenge authoritarianism. Despite the swift suppression of many protestors, analysts suggest that, while sporadic, the frequent incidents indicate a growing discontent among Chinese citizens toward the current system.

Amanda Stephens, for Rti News