Violent Protests Erupt in China Following Teenager’s Mysterious Death
Protests Erupt in Pucheng After Teenager’s Death Sparks Allegations of Cover-Up
- Protests broke out in Pucheng, Shaanxi province in northwest China
- The teenager, identified as Dang, was reported to have fallen to his death
- Authorities have claimed it was an accident
Protests broke out in Pucheng, Shaanxi province in northwest China, after a teenager’s death sparked allegations of a cover-up. The teenager, identified as Dang, was reported to have fallen to his death on January 2 while at his school dormitory.
Authorities have claimed it was an accident, but rumors and social media posts quickly spread, suggesting foul play and a possible cover-up by school officials.
In the aftermath of his death, widespread protests erupted, with demonstrators throwing objects at police and authorities reportedly using force to disperse crowds.
Videos circulated online showing clashes between protesters and police officers, with one clip showing an officer beating a protester with a baton.
Though protests are not uncommon in China, authorities have been particularly sensitive to public demonstrations since the 2022 White Paper protests against COVID policies, which saw rare criticism of the Chinese Communist Party and President Xi Jinping.
As a result, local media and social media platforms within China were quickly censored, and state-run outlets remained silent on the issue.
