Sunday, June 1, 2025
29.8 C
Singapore

China’s Xi urges more policing as virus toll rises

- Advertisement -

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for tightened control over online discussion and increased policing to ensure “positive energy” and social stability, state media said Saturday, as the country struggles to contain the deadly new coronavirus.

Xi’s remarks were made public as the authorities have faced rare bouts of public anger over the handling of an epidemic that has killed more than 1,500 people and infected some 66,000 across the country.

Censors had allowed some online criticism of local officials in central Hubei — the epicentre and origin of the crisis — but calls for freedom of speech and political reform were scrubbed after the death of a whistleblowing doctor from the virus.

The government must “strengthen the management and control of online media,” and “crack down on those who seize the opportunity to create rumours” on the internet, Xi said in the February 3 speech published by state media.

- Advertisement -

Simultaneously, “it is necessary to increase use of police force and strengthen the visible use of police,” Xi said, calling for a crackdown on behaviour that “disrupts social order” including hoarding medical supplies.

See also  Gender is personal – not computational

Xi urged party members to “dare to criticise” those who had failed to carry out the Communist Party central committee’s instructions, and warned “those who fail to perform their duties shall be punished according to discipline and law.”

Local officials in Hubei have already begun to feel the force of Xi’s orders.

On Thursday, the political chiefs of Hubei and its capital, Wuhan, were sacked and replaced by Xi loyalists with security backgrounds.

- Advertisement -

The province’s top two health officials have also been fired.

Xi also called for the government to emphasize effective actions it has taken and “vividly describe touching deeds” from the frontlines of the fight against the virus.

“Let positive energy fill the cyberspace from start to end,” Xi said in the speech, given earlier this month at a meeting of the Politburo Standing Committee, China’s ruling council.

Xi initially kept a low profile in the early weeks of the crisis but has stepped up his public rhetoric in recent days on what he has called a “people’s war” against the virus.

- Advertisement -
See also  9 hours of gaming a day causes 6-year-old Filipino boy to develop uncontrollable facial seizures

tjx/lth/rbu

© Agence France-Presse

/AFP

- Advertisement -

Hot this week

Non-life-threatening 995 calls to be redirected to medical triage helpline from June 1

SINGAPORE: From June 1, non-life-threatening 995 calls will be...

Non-life-threatening 995 calls to be redirected to medical triage helpline from June 1

SINGAPORE: From June 1, non-life-threatening 995 calls will be...

Deaf TikToker shares glimpse into daily life as an employed Singaporean

SINGAPORE: TikTok user Jaslyn, who goes by the handle...

They told me to ignore it: Why our response to bullying is failing

SINGAPORE: When we think about bullying, the mind often...

Philip Ng, 47, confirms his romantic relationship with 34 y/o model Renee Li

HONG KONG: It seems Philip Ng, the Hong Kong-American...

Popular Categories