2022---xi-jinping-macht--frustrierte-studenten--f-r-chinas-covid-proteste-verantwortlich--hei-t-es-in-dem-bericht---news-text-area Here

In late 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly told EU officials that nation-wide "White Paper" protests against "Zero-Covid" policies were driven by "frustrated students" [1]. This framing was interpreted as an attempt to downplay systemic dissatisfaction and blame youth, rather than acknowledge widespread opposition to pandemic restrictions [1]. The comment occurred shortly before the abrupt abandonment of China's "Zero-Covid" policy in late 2022 [1].