Skip to main content
Accessibility

NOW LIVE: Freedom in the World 2023

  • English
  • 繁體中文
Freedom House Logo - Torch next to words Freedom House

Primary Navigation

  • Our Issues
  • Perspectives
  • Policy Recommendations
  • Explore the Map
Expanding Freedom and Democracy

Quicklinks

  • Events
  • Perspectives Blog
  • Find A Country
  • Explore The Map
  • Careers

Mega Menu

  • Our Issues
    • Authoritarian Reach
    • Technology & Democracy
    • Promoting U.S. Leadership
    • Democracies in Decline
    • Election Integrity
    • Equality & Human Rights
    • Government Accountability & Transparency
    • Strengthening Civil Society
    • Media Freedom
    • Religious Freedom
    • Freedom of Expression
    • Freedom of Assembly
    • Democracy During Pandemic
  • Programs
    • Afghanistan Human Rights Coordination Mechanism
    • Political Prisoners Initiative
    • Regional Programs
    • Emergency Assistance and Thematic Programs
  • Countries
  • Events
    • Reimagining American Democracy
    • Annual Freedom Awards
  • Policy Recommendations
    • Testimony and Advocacy Letters
  • Reports
    • Freedom in the World
    • Freedom on the Net
    • Nations in Transit
    • Beijing’s Global Media Influence
    • China Media Bulletin
    • Hong Kong Media Bulletin
    • China Dissent Monitor
    • Election Watch for the Digital Age
    • Transnational Repression
    • Archives
  • Perspectives Blog
  • News Releases & Statements
  • About Us
    • History
    • Our Experts
    • Board and Leadership
    • Ways to Give
    • Financials
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Manage Subscriptions
Jump To:
  • China Dissent Monitor
  • Past Issues
  • Explore Data
  • Subscribe
china connected
China Dissent Monitor 2023

Issue 2: October-December 2022

DOWNLOAD ENGLISH PDF DOWNLOAD CHINESE PDF
CDM Logo
DIVE INTO THE DATA

China Dissent Monitor dashboard

VISIT THE SITE

Highlights

China Dissent Monitor second edition map
Distribution of protest events. (June to December 2022)
  • Over one thousand real-world protests since June: CDM has documented 1,080 dissent events since June 2022, 96 percent of which were offline acts, such as demonstrations, sign protests, and strikes. At least 23,000 people cumulatively have participated in protest events. So far, 253 events were documented for the period from October 1 to December 5, 2022.
  • Anti-lockdown protests: CDM documented 173 cases of dissent against COVID-19 pandemic rules between June 1 and December 5, with 48 protests in September and October and 89 in November—reflecting a rising wave throughout the autumn. Analysis indicates that relative to other dissent, lockdown protests were larger, more likely to challenge the government, and more likely to result in arrests. This movement contributed to a greater amount of student-led and political dissent during the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to the third.
  • Protest dip during Party Congress: CDM data suggests a relative decrease in protests around the period of the 20th Party Congress in October, when Xi Jinping began his third term as Chinese Communist Party (CCP) head. This could be the result of tightened security or greater censorship of information about protests. Despite the temporary lull, dissent actions remained frequent before and after that period.
  • Protests by diverse groups: While property buyers (395 events) and workers (168) constitute the top groups engaged in dissent since June, a wide range of others groups launched protest actions including urban residents (153), students (56), rural residents (33), and faith groups (25). CDM has documented dissent in every province and region of the PRC.
  • Arrest of protesters is common: In 8.5 percent of cases (92 events), there is direct evidence of authorities detaining or arresting protesters, reflecting the significant risks faced by people who engage in public dissent. The risk is higher for certain groups that face targeted persecution; for example, 72 percent of documented dissent actions among faith groups resulted in arrests.
  • Government concessions: State authorities have made some level of concession in 51 cases—for instance, by revising a policy or acknowledging protesters’ grievances. Concessions were more frequently documented in response to anti-lockdown protests.
CDM Logo

Explore the full report

Chinese Version: DOWNLOAD THE PDF

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT PDF

Be the first to know what's happening.

Join the Freedom House weekly newsletter

Subscribe

Footer Main Menu

  • Our Issues
  • Countries
  • Policy Recommendations
  • Explore the Map
  • Donate
  • News & Perspectives
  • Reports
  • Events
  • About
  • Careers

Address

1850 M St. NW Floor 11
Washington, DC 20036

(202) 296-5101

General Inquiries

[email protected]

Press & Media

[email protected]

Footer Social Menu

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Footer

  • Manage Subscriptions
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Content Permissions
  • Site Map
@2023 FreedomHouse