Authorities in Beijing removed political protest banners from an overpass in the Chinese capital, according to images widely circulated on social media on Thursday, just days before the start of a Communist Party congress held twice a decade.
The banners carried various slogans, including calling for the impeachment of President Xi Jinping and an end to strict anti-Covid policies, according to numerous images and videos circulating on Twitter, which is blocked in China.
According to the footage, smoke could be seen billowing from the road above where the banners were hung in Haidian district, northwest of Beijing. Haidian hosts several prestigious universities.
The incident comes at a highly sensitive time in the Chinese capital, with authorities on high alert in the run-up to the ruling Communist Party's 20th congress, where Xi is expected to secure a third leadership term.
"Let's strike from schools and from work and eliminate the dictatorial traitor Xi Jinping," read one of the slogans.
It is highly unusual for Xi to be named specifically at protests in China, where euphemisms and oblique phrases and images are often used in an effort to evade censorship.
“We don't want COVID tests, we want to eat; we don't want lockdowns, we want to be free," read another message on the banners, written in red letters.
China's covid-zero policy, which has led to frequent lockdowns and caused great economic damage, has fueled widespread frustration in Chinese cities.
On Thursday night there was a significant police presence in the area, with several police cars and officers standing guard on the road where the banners had been hung. There was no trace of the banners or the fire.
Search terms related to the images and the subject of the protest returned no results on China's heavily censored internet, although multiple indirect references could be found.
"There was a brave person in Beijing today," one Chinese social media user wrote, adding several thumbs up and roses of support.
Others showed their support on the WeChat app by sharing links to a previously little-known song called "Sitong Bridge," the name of the Haidian bridge, by an artist named Biuya. By early afternoon, the song was censored on various Chinese music apps.
Hu Xijin, former editor of the nationalist Global Times tabloid and a high-profile commentator, tweeted: "China is currently stable, especially its capital Beijing. The Covid epidemic has been well controlled. In Beijing there is no public dissatisfaction."
