At the end of November 2022, university student Huang Yicheng participated in the White Paper protests in Shanghai. A tragic fire where ten people suffered agonizing deaths in a sealed-off high-rise building in Urumqi during the lockdown triggered a wave of solidarity. Only a few days later, people took to the streets in several cities, including Shanghai. They held white A4 sheets of paper over their heads – a symbol of Chinese censorship.
Huang was arrested during the protests, but managed to flee and now lives in Germany. Contrary to popular belief, the protests were not mainly driven by young people, says Huang in an interview with Fabian Peltsch. In fact, most protesters across the country were farmworkers who rebelled against the strict lockdowns. However, Huang does not believe that such nationwide movements will happen again in the near future, for example, due to the ongoing economic crisis. He says the White Paper Movement was unique because of its political ideas.
Have an interesting read and a good start to the week!
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.
They are already over 100 days old and have finally been presented to the public on St. Nicholas Day. The two panda cubs were born at Berlin Zoo on August 22. And the names of the fluffy panda girls are now official: Meng Hao 梦好 and Meng Tian 梦甜 – or Leni and Lotti in Berlin.
At the feel-good event at the zoo, the two godparents, Berlin’s mayor Kai Wegner and China’s ambassador Deng Hongbo, praised the pandas as a special link between Berlin and the world and as a living symbol of the close and friendly relations between China and Germany. Leni and Lotti are already doing a very good job as panda diplomats. As part of its panda diplomacy, China lends the animals primarily to countries with which it seeks to foster good business and relations.
Last December, the panda twins Pit and Paule were flown out to China. They were also born at Berlin Zoo. Their parents, Meng Meng and Jiao Qing, were taken in by Berlin Zoo in 2017 on a permanent loan for 15 years. They gave birth to the two cubs in 2019. Their return was contractually agreed. jul
Donald Trump plans to appoint David Perdue as the new US ambassador to China. At first glance, this decision seems fitting: Perdue, a prominent Republican, is known for his support of Trump’s aggressive China policy. But behind his hardliner image lies a career closely intertwined with China and other Asian countries.
David Perdue was born in Georgia in 1949. In 2015, he entered the Senate as a wealthy businessman and career changer, where he represented his home state until 2021. Perdue wanted to please Trump right from the start: He supported almost every key issue of the first Trump administration and became one of its most prominent advocates. However, the fact that Perdue, like Trump, is now pursuing a hard line against China is surprising considering his career background.
In the 1990s, Perdue worked as a successful top executive in Hong Kong and Singapore for companies such as Sara Lee and Reebok. He built up production and supply chains in Asia and cultivated close relationships with Chinese manufacturers and government representatives. As President of Reebok, he later pushed for the relocation of almost all production to Asia, including China.
At the beginning of his political career, Perdue actively defended his actions. When he was criticized in 2014 for moving jobs overseas, he expressed pride in finding cheaper labor. “This is part of American business, part of any business,” he said at the time.
However, under Trump, Perdue no longer wanted to discuss this part of his life publicly. According to media reports, he removed all references to his previous work in Asia from advertising materials during his 2020 re-election campaign for the Senate.
Instead, Perdue has since presented himself as a staunch critic of Beijing. He supported Trump’s trade war, defended punitive tariffs and warned about intellectual property theft.
Even former colleagues expressed surprise at this change of course. In an interview with the Washington Post in 2020, Reebok founder Paul Fireman said that Perdue had never suggested moving production back to the USA during his time at the company, as this would have been economically impossible.
Perdue is to replace Nicholas Burns, the current US ambassador to China. Burns pursues a more diplomatic approach. Unlike Perdue, he is a career diplomat and regularly highlights China’s positive sides. On platforms such as X, he shares images that signal harmony and dialog – from Chinese high-speed trains, for example. With such gestures, he conveys an image of US diplomacy that also leaves room for cooperation. Perdue could mark a clear break with this approach. It can be expected that he will adopt a tougher stance towards Beijing. Jörn Petring
If you think about it, the word sunflower is not entirely accurate. Shouldn’t it be called “direction-sun-flower” (向 xiàng “direction,” 日 rì “sun,” 葵 kuí “large-flowered plant”) like in Chinese?
At the end of November 2022, university student Huang Yicheng participated in the White Paper protests in Shanghai. A tragic fire where ten people suffered agonizing deaths in a sealed-off high-rise building in Urumqi during the lockdown triggered a wave of solidarity. Only a few days later, people took to the streets in several cities, including Shanghai. They held white A4 sheets of paper over their heads – a symbol of Chinese censorship.
Huang was arrested during the protests, but managed to flee and now lives in Germany. Contrary to popular belief, the protests were not mainly driven by young people, says Huang in an interview with Fabian Peltsch. In fact, most protesters across the country were farmworkers who rebelled against the strict lockdowns. However, Huang does not believe that such nationwide movements will happen again in the near future, for example, due to the ongoing economic crisis. He says the White Paper Movement was unique because of its political ideas.
Have an interesting read and a good start to the week!
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.
They are already over 100 days old and have finally been presented to the public on St. Nicholas Day. The two panda cubs were born at Berlin Zoo on August 22. And the names of the fluffy panda girls are now official: Meng Hao 梦好 and Meng Tian 梦甜 – or Leni and Lotti in Berlin.
At the feel-good event at the zoo, the two godparents, Berlin’s mayor Kai Wegner and China’s ambassador Deng Hongbo, praised the pandas as a special link between Berlin and the world and as a living symbol of the close and friendly relations between China and Germany. Leni and Lotti are already doing a very good job as panda diplomats. As part of its panda diplomacy, China lends the animals primarily to countries with which it seeks to foster good business and relations.
Last December, the panda twins Pit and Paule were flown out to China. They were also born at Berlin Zoo. Their parents, Meng Meng and Jiao Qing, were taken in by Berlin Zoo in 2017 on a permanent loan for 15 years. They gave birth to the two cubs in 2019. Their return was contractually agreed. jul
Donald Trump plans to appoint David Perdue as the new US ambassador to China. At first glance, this decision seems fitting: Perdue, a prominent Republican, is known for his support of Trump’s aggressive China policy. But behind his hardliner image lies a career closely intertwined with China and other Asian countries.
David Perdue was born in Georgia in 1949. In 2015, he entered the Senate as a wealthy businessman and career changer, where he represented his home state until 2021. Perdue wanted to please Trump right from the start: He supported almost every key issue of the first Trump administration and became one of its most prominent advocates. However, the fact that Perdue, like Trump, is now pursuing a hard line against China is surprising considering his career background.
In the 1990s, Perdue worked as a successful top executive in Hong Kong and Singapore for companies such as Sara Lee and Reebok. He built up production and supply chains in Asia and cultivated close relationships with Chinese manufacturers and government representatives. As President of Reebok, he later pushed for the relocation of almost all production to Asia, including China.
At the beginning of his political career, Perdue actively defended his actions. When he was criticized in 2014 for moving jobs overseas, he expressed pride in finding cheaper labor. “This is part of American business, part of any business,” he said at the time.
However, under Trump, Perdue no longer wanted to discuss this part of his life publicly. According to media reports, he removed all references to his previous work in Asia from advertising materials during his 2020 re-election campaign for the Senate.
Instead, Perdue has since presented himself as a staunch critic of Beijing. He supported Trump’s trade war, defended punitive tariffs and warned about intellectual property theft.
Even former colleagues expressed surprise at this change of course. In an interview with the Washington Post in 2020, Reebok founder Paul Fireman said that Perdue had never suggested moving production back to the USA during his time at the company, as this would have been economically impossible.
Perdue is to replace Nicholas Burns, the current US ambassador to China. Burns pursues a more diplomatic approach. Unlike Perdue, he is a career diplomat and regularly highlights China’s positive sides. On platforms such as X, he shares images that signal harmony and dialog – from Chinese high-speed trains, for example. With such gestures, he conveys an image of US diplomacy that also leaves room for cooperation. Perdue could mark a clear break with this approach. It can be expected that he will adopt a tougher stance towards Beijing. Jörn Petring
If you think about it, the word sunflower is not entirely accurate. Shouldn’t it be called “direction-sun-flower” (向 xiàng “direction,” 日 rì “sun,” 葵 kuí “large-flowered plant”) like in Chinese?
