Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he supports Chinese protestors who are speaking out against their government's harsh Zero COVID-19 policies.. Trudeau on ChinaTrudeau on China ."Canadians are watching very closely. Obviously, everyone in China should be allowed to express themselves, should be allowed to share their perspectives, and indeed, protest,” Trudeau said on Tuesday before heading into a cabinet meeting..Over the weekend, thousands of Chinese took to the streets protest against their government's oppressive COVID-19 restrictions. China's 'Zero COVID' strategy entails strict lockdowns, mandatory testing and the removal of sick people from their homes in order to eradicate COVID-19..The nationwide protests were sparked by an apartment fire in the city of Urumqi in Xinjiang province that reportedly killed 10 people last week. Chinese health officials had welded people into their apartments to stop the spread of COVID-19, preventing them from escaping as the fire spread through the building. .The protests are the largest public displays of defiance of the ruling Chinese Communist Party since the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, when thousands of students gathered in Tiananmen Square to call for democracy and human rights..READ MORE: WATCH: China revolts against government's Zero COVID policies.Trudeau said the Canadian government will continue informing the Chinese Communist Party it will stand up for human rights and "people who are expressing themselves.".“We’re going to continue to ensure that China knows we'll stand up for human rights, we’ll stand with people who are expressing themselves," he said..Trudeau also called on the Chinese government to respect the ability of journalists to do their jobs. On Sunday, Chinese police beat and arrested BBC journalist Ed Lawrence for covering the protests in Shanghai. He was released from jail hours later..READ MORE: Chinese police arrest, beat BBC reporter to keep him from catching COVID.Trudeau's support for Chinese protestors upset with their government's COVID-19 policies was in stark contrast with how he's spoken about similar protests in Canada..During the 2021 election, Trudeau called protestors upset with the Liberals proposed federal vaccine passport system, "anti-vaxxer mobs."."And I know we'll not allow those voices, those special interest groups, those protestors — I don't even want to call them protestors — those anti-vaxxer mobs from directing how this country gets through this pandemic," he said on September 6 during a campaign stop in Welland, ON..Then months later, as the Freedom Convoy was headed to Ottawa to protest against vaccine mandates, the prime minister infamously called them a "small fringe minority" with "unacceptable views.".“They do not represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other, who know that following the science and stepping up to protect each other is the best way to continue to ensure our freedoms, our rights, our values, as a country," Trudeau said during a press conference on January 27.
