Protests flare across China over zero-Covid, lockdowns after deadly Urumqi fire

Protests against China’s zero-Covid policy have spread across the country following a deadly fire in the western Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on November 24, 2022. Many demonstrators voiced anger about reports that a Covid lockdown in the regional capital Urumqi delayed rescuers and prevented victims from escaping, a claim authorities have denied. Though Xinjiang officials have since announced that Covid restrictions will be slowly lifted, protests have already spread to other parts of the country, including Shanghai and the capital Beijing.