Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping will attend the World AI Conference held in Shanghai. Xi arrived in Shanghai yesterday (July 15th), and local security measures have been stepped up. Following the earlier announcement of flight bans and traffic controls, it was reported that some high-level residential buildings received a “close window notice,” prompting mockery from overseas netizens.
According to Chinese state media, the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference will be held in Shanghai from July 17th to 20th. On July 15th, Xi Jinping has already arrived in Shanghai and visited residents of the Minhang District Citizen’s New Village on Bansongyuan Road. He was accompanied by Cai Qi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party and Director of the General Office of the Central Committee, Chen Jining, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party and Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, and Gong Zheng, the Mayor of Shanghai.
The news of the upgraded security measures in Shanghai was exposed online.
On July 14th, a “close window notice” issued by Changfeng Center and Dream Dragon Building to owners and tenants was leaked online. The notice stated that starting immediately until the end of the conference, all windows facing the “Yanan West Road” viaduct are strictly forbidden to be opened in order to “cooperate with this conference.” Owners and tenants were instructed not to watch, take photos, or post on WeChat moments. The notice ended with a repeated emphasis in red font three times: “Close windows tightly and lock them!” (Link)
Earlier on July 12th, the Shanghai authorities issued a notice stating that from 0:00 on July 15th to 24:00 on July 20th, the launch and flight of unmanned aerial vehicles and other “low-altitude, slow-speed, small-sized” aircraft are prohibited throughout Shanghai.
Following that, a college group at a university in Shanghai also issued a notice to suspend all low-altitude flight activities, including research and experimental flights, warning that violators may be dealt with by the public security authorities. (Link)
In addition to suspending drone test flights, Shanghai also issued a widespread road closure notice.
With each of Xi Jinping’s trips, strict security measures are put in place, as if facing a great enemy.
The measures taken by Shanghai authorities have sparked mockery among netizens overseas: “They act as if facing a great enemy in their own country, suggesting that they are well aware of their lack of popular support.” “They know they have caused too much trouble, that’s why they see threats everywhere.” “Not allowed to watch, not allowed to take photos, the AI conference treats owners as mere background props.” “They preach ‘serving the people’ every day, but never care about the ordinary citizens, not even allowing them to open a window in their own homes because of it…”