Chinese authorities are tightening their control on social media accounts and closely monitoring the ones which carry opinions on social issues as the country's economy remains lackluster almost one year after the end of the zero-COVID policy.

The policy, which included lockdowns, was lifted abruptly following street protests against the government's policy.
They took place in various parts of the country including Beijing and Shanghai in November last year.

Young people held up blank sheets of paper, expressing their dissatisfaction with the government.

In Shanghai, protesters gathered on November 26 through 27 of last year, demanding the end to the zero-COVID policy and the change in the government.

It is rare to have such in-person protests in China.

Then, the Chinese government abruptly ended the zero-COVID policy and street protests seem to have stopped.

But the recovery of the country's economy has been slow. The employment situation is difficult, especially for young people, real estate markets are in a dire situation and the future of the economy is uncertain.

The government in Beijing remains on the alert, fearing people's dissatisfaction will turn into criticism against the government.

Last November, the authorities detained many protesters.

NHK interviewed one online who was detained in Shanghai and left China later.

He was detained on November 27 last year while he was protesting in Shanghai.

He was questioned at a police station and claimed some officers beat him.

Following the detention, his online activities were watched. He felt stifled without freedom of speech and emigrated abroad in October this year.

He says that he changes addresses often while seeking refugee status.

He said that if more people, not just students and other young people, had taken part in protests last year, the movements could have promoted democracy in China.

He added that protests can occur again but the authorities are closely monitoring the situation. He said the government will squash such movements because it does not want foreign countries to know about them.

He said the government in Beijing does not mention the protests and that it conceals and is evasive about them just as it has done with historic events including Tiananmen square and others.

He stressed that the protests should not be hidden.