Huang Yicheng: 'The White Paper Movement was unique'

You were arrested on the second day of the "White Paper" protests in Shanghai in 2022. How did you experience the events of that night?

In Shanghai, there were two days of protests. The first took place on a Saturday, but I wasn't there. I had stayed up late the previous night, maybe until 2 or 3 a.m. Later, I saw a tweet from " Teacher Li " about the protests on Urumqi Road, along with videos of what had happened. That's when I decided to go the next day to show my support.

What did you witness?

On the second day, November 27th, most people in the front row were women holding up white sheets of paper, a silent symbol of protest. There were many people, including British and Japanese journalists, covering the event. Initially, the police detained those in the front row holding the white paper because it was viewed as a sign of government dissatisfaction. I wasn't in the front row or holding a sheet of paper, though I had two sheets in my bag, which I didn't take out.

Why were you arrested?

When the crowd started retreating, people chanted slogans like "Release the detained!" I joined in, maybe too loudly. A policeman pointed at me and spoke into his headset. Moments later, six or seven officers tackled me, threw me to the ground, beat me, and dragged me onto their bus.

In an interview, you said that an expat helped you escape. How did that happen?

Fortunately, I wasn't handcuffed and was placed in the second row of the bus, close to the exit. From there, I saw the police repeatedly slapping the protesters, especially women. When officers noticed people filming outside, they quickly pulled down the curtains.

Amid the chaos, I escaped, running across the road. I asked a white man if he could help me get out of the police cordon. He led me along Urumqi Road to the metro station. Once safe, he hugged me, and we exchanged WeChat contacts. Since the subways were canceled, I took a taxi home. I later found out he had lived in Shanghai for years. He was interested in the protest, but didn't actively participate. However, after I gave an interview to Reuters in April 2023 about what had happened, he stopped communicating with me. I suspect he might have been interrogated by Chinese authorities as well.

What happened afterward?

I contacted a journalist from Radio Free Asia and a dissident writer who taught me protective techniques. Once the strict lockdown was lifted, I fled to a remote part of Yunnan in southeastern China. I stayed there for three months, almost entirely cut off from friends and family, waiting for a solution. I applied for a Schengen student visa, and once it was approved, I left China.

How did you experience your time in hiding?

That's an interesting question. I actually felt happy during that time because I was surrounded by incredible beauty – picturesque villages and breathtaking mountains. I thought it might be my last chance to experience China before going into exile. Looking back, it was a precious time that deepened my connection to my country.

Were you politically active before the protests?

In 2018, during university, I joined the Students' Association of Marxism in Beijing. Similar associations across China were involved in labor movements, such as providing legal aid to workers in Shenzhen's factories. However, the government cracked down on these groups, leading to the detention of over 50-60 students. The Chinese government claims to be Marxist, but only in name.

Do you think such protests could happen again? Are enough young people willing to take such a risk?

First of all, I disagree with the Western media's portrayal of the protest movement as youth-driven. While young people with ideals like free speech and democracy participated, most protesters nationwide were rural workers, primarily opposing harsh lockdowns. Thousands of protests happen yearly in China, but few gain attention like the White Paper Movement, which was unique because of political ideas of freedom of speech and slogans like "down with Xi Jinping, and down with the CCP!" I doubt similar large-scale protests will happen soon because COVID lockdowns were a rare policy affecting everyone equally. Future discontent, like a slowing economy, will impact people differently, making unified national protests unlikely.

You are now living in exile in Germany. How do you feel about your new life?

I'm generally safe, but I face online smear campaigns and threats. The Ministry of State Security has interrogated my family and even former colleagues in China, making it impossible for me to return. Exile often brings anxiety and depression, a common refugee experience. Surprisingly, two years after the White Paper Movement, it remains widely remembered, contrary to my expectation that it would be forgotten like countless others. The ongoing media interest shows the movement's lasting international resonance.