U.S. supports right to peaceful protests in China over COVID restrictions

On Monday the White House stopped short of criticizing Beijing as protests erupt

Rare protests broke out across China over the weekend as groups of people vented their frustration over the zero-Covid policy.

The unrest came as news spread that those infections surged, which prompted more local Covid controls.

After nearly three years of strict controls, the youth unemployment has climbed to nearly 20%.

The White House and U.S. State Department expressed disagreement with China’s zero-Covid policy and support for the ongoing protests across the country.

“Our message to peaceful protestors around the world is the same and consistent, said National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby.

“People should be allowed to the right to assemble and to peacefully protest policies or laws or dictates that they take issue with.”

In Shanghai, the nation’s largest city, there were clashes with police over the weekend and in the capital city Beijing protest are flaring now in response to the strictest lockdowns inside China this includes peaceful student protest at one of the nation’s most prestigious universities.

All this a first during President Xi Jinping near decade-long tenure.

As the holiday season is underway, there are growing concerns about the impact these protests might have on the global supply chain.