The space for public debate in China has become infinitesimally small. This was evident this week not only in the demonstrations against the government’s zero-Covid policy, but also in the reactions to the death of former party leader Jiang Zemin.
There were two events that determined the current week in China. Two events that at first glance seem to have little to do with each other – but together they very clearly demonstrate the extent to which China’s party leadership controls public opinion in the country.