The Zhongnanhai compound in the capital, Beijing, often referred to as China's political nerve center, is the equivalent of the White House in the United States. Zhongnanhai is the residence of China's top leadership and the venue where crucial executive decisions are made.
The incident took place after China's annual crucial political gathering, "Two Sessions" (or "lianghui"), commenced in Beijing last week. The Two Sessions, which encapsulate the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), serve as critical forums for deliberating on state affairs, budget allocations and economic policies for the next five-year cycle.
The Chinese Communist Party's control of everyday affairs under leader Xi Jinping has come under heavy scrutiny as he has increasingly emphasized upholding national security over economic growth.
Late on March 10, a black car tried to enter the Zhongnanhai compound via the Xinhua Gate, the main entrance to the compound, and guards jumped on the driver. People driving by the Xinhua Gate captured the incident in a video leaked to the outside world.
The video shows a man being dragged away from the car by a group of security guards outside the Xinhua Gate. It appears to have originated on an X-like platform, but all posts were removed. Subsequently, the incident wasn't discussed on Weibo.
Taiwanese media reported that someone was heard yelling "murderous communists" in the video.
"This process was filmed by other people passing by the scene. You can hear someone yelling "murderous communists" at the time," Taiwanese media outlet Liberty Times reported on Monday.
Newsweek independently confirmed that the incident occurred at the Xinhua Gate by cross-referencing old videos of the premises.
Beijing, Mar 10: a black sedan was seen stopped right outside Xinhuamen (新华门), the entrance to Zhongnanhai, and someone — most likely the driver — was dragged from the vehicle and carried away — spread-eagled — from the scene by a squad of policemen in the wee hours… pic.twitter.com/YYiBlTKMVE
— Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) March 10, 2024
The motivation for the incident isn't known. However, such developments that showcase dissent at the heart of the Chinese government's seat are rare.
Chinese citizens living outside the country have compared the incident with the Peng Lifa case, in which an individual raised banners, one of which called Chinese leader Xi Jinping a "national traitor."
Newsweek contacted China's embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment.
On October 13, 2022, a Chinese citizen named Peng Lifa put up two banners on Beijing's Sitong Bridge. One banner said: "We want food, not PCR tests. We want freedom, not lockdowns. We want respect, not lies. We want reform, not a Cultural Revolution. We want a vote, not a leader. We want to be citizens, not slaves," the Guardian reported in October 2022.
The NPC, China's paramount legislative body, began its session on March 5, and the CPPCC, the leading advisory body, started its meeting a day earlier. The joint sessions of NPC will close on Monday.
The regular press conference by the Chinese premier was canceled for this year.
This year's Two Sessions meeting was scrutinized following significant upheavals in China's political landscape. Notably, the past year has seen the ousting of key figures, including the foreign minister and defense minister, with more than 10 senior officials who attended last year's Two Sessions no longer in their posts.
Among these are Qin Gang, China's shortest-serving foreign minister, and Li Shangfu, the briefest incumbent as defense minister.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Aadil Brar is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers international security, U.S.-China relations, and East Asian ... Read more
