Recently, the protagonist of the anti-communist slogan incident in Chongqing, Qi Hong, expressed in a media interview that he felt suffocated and hopeless while in mainland China. He has no intention of returning after going abroad. Meanwhile, his two friends in Chongqing have been detained and interrogated by the authorities.
On August 29, a massive projection of anti-communist slogans appeared on the wall of a building in Chongqing University City, shocking both domestic and international audiences as the event unfolded under the watchful eye of heavy surveillance in China.
The projected slogans included: “Down with the red fascist regime, overthrow the tyranny of the Communist Party!”, “Without the Communist Party, there can be a new China, freedom is not a gift but a right to be reclaimed!”, “Rise up, those unwilling to be slaves, resist and reclaim your rights!”, “No lies, only truth; No slavery, only freedom; Communist tyranny must be overthrown!”
Central News Agency recently released an interview with Qi Hong. He mentioned that even the most stringent surveillance systems have loopholes, and the key to effective technological surveillance lies in the human component. He emphasized that surveillance is a two-way street – if authorities monitor us, we can also monitor them.
Qi Hong, born in a rural area of Chongqing in 1982, dropped out of school at 16 to work due to a lack of temporary residence permit. He faced multiple detentions and beatings by the police in Guangdong and Beijing when he was young. Eventually, he settled in Beijing. Concerns over his children’s education led him to become acquainted with outspoken intellectuals like Xu Zhiyong and numerous human rights lawyers, who openly advocated for government adherence to laws and regulations. Initially feeling distant from these intellectual elites, his mindset gradually transformed.
Growing up, Qi Hong felt oppressed and hopeless. In the past, those who were oppressed and mistreated sought revenge, but after learning about intellectuals and rights lawyers, he turned against hatred.
Regarding his recent actions, inspired by Peng Lifa, a member of the “Beijing Four-way Bridge Warriors” who hung banners, Qi Hong felt that continuing his life in China was meaningless. He described feeling suffocated and in conflict with the kind of life he wanted, leading to a sense of hopelessness.
He believed that the protest itself was not difficult, with determination being the key factor. He stated, “Why worry about so much? I do not like to endure, but rather feel more indignation about how people of all classes are treated.” He did not anticipate such a significant response to his actions and never considered himself a hero or warrior.
Prior to the event, Qi Hong had already traveled to the UK with his wife and two children and remotely operated the projection. He kept his plan secret from everyone, including his wife, as he believed it would increase the risk to his safety.
A week later, life for Qi Hong in the UK has not returned to normal. He mentioned losing over ten kilograms in these days, and his wife’s complexion has deteriorated. They are mainly concerned about their relatives and friends being implicated, as two friends in Chongqing have been detained for interrogation.
“I am certain that I cannot return to the mainland, even if given the chance. There is no difference between life and death in that place,” he expressed. Qi Hong mentioned that many decisions need time, and he looks forward to learning new things in a new environment.
The large-scale projection action on the exterior wall of a high-rise building in Chongqing University City lasted over fifty minutes, attracting onlookers and quickly spreading over the internet. It took the Communist police approximately an hour to locate the projection equipment in a hotel room. Surveillance footage in the room captured the police rushing in and hastily shutting down the projector. Among the items found was a handwritten open letter from Qi Hong, urging them not to “aid and abet oppression.”
After the video of the event was posted online, it sparked numerous shares, causing a stir on overseas social media platforms. Despite being a topic that could not be discussed within China, the following day, some self-media platforms briefly acknowledged the incident with titles like “Salute to the Warriors.”
Qi Hong’s resistance against the government was not a sudden act. He was always outspoken, and on the anniversary of “June 4,” he would post on his WeChat moments, but his friends were too afraid to like his posts.