On September 23, Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping and his wife arrived at Andrews Joint Base in the outskirts of Washington. Outside the base, clashes erupted between the welcoming and protesting crowds, prompting police intervention.
According to Voice of America, on Wednesday afternoon, before Xi Jinping’s plane landed, clashes broke out between the welcoming and protesting crowds gathered near the base.
Videos circulating on social media showed pushing, shoving, and banner grabbing between the welcoming and protesting individuals. Police officers were on the scene to calm the conflict and prevent further escalation.
A witness who filmed the incident commented, “On September 23, in Washington DC, pro-Communist individuals deliberately stirred up trouble with the peaceful protest by Chinese democracy activists, leading to a physical altercation.”
Voice of America reporter Huang Yaoyi, reporting on the scene, noted that several numbered large buses were parked in the nearby parking lot. An interviewed driver revealed that they were there to welcome Xi Jinping.
Meanwhile, a large protest crowd also gathered outside the base. Flags and banners from protest groups like the Chinese Democratic Party and the Alliance to End Communist Dictatorship displayed slogans such as “Liberate Hong Kong,” “Remove Dictator Xi Jinping,” “Organ Harvesting,” and “Xi Jinping Step Down.”
Currently, the police have not issued any statements regarding the clash between the welcoming and protesting crowds, and there have been no reports of participants being detained.