On November 28, two days after the outbreak of nationwide protests against the zero-COVID policy, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) Political and Legal Affairs Committee (PLAC) held a plenary session emphasizing the need to “resolutely crack down on the infiltration and sabotage activities of hostile forces, and resolutely crack down on illegal and criminal acts that disrupt the social order.”
Chen Wenqing, the new head of the PLAC, presided over the meeting. Wang Xiaohong, the Minister of Public Security, Zhou Qiang, the president of the Supreme People’s Court, and Zhang Jun, the president of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate also attended. As the four are the leaders of China’s judiciary authorities, the meeting was considered to be the CCP’s response to the protests.
This meeting called for strengthening the “combat spirit” and accelerating the construction of a higher level of “a safe China under the rule of law.”
This meeting stressed the need promptly to channel and resolve conflicts and disputes and to help solve the practical difficulties of the people. It also asked “resolutely to combat the infiltration and sabotage activities of hostile forces, resolutely to combat illegal and criminal acts that disrupt the social order, and effectively to maintain the general stability of society.”
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), November 29, 2022
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202211290383.aspx