Beijing Tightens Security Ahead of Fifth Plenum, Deploying Militias and Armed Police

Every pedestrian bridge in Beijing has designated bridge watchers. (Video screenshot)

[People News] Security has been intensified on the streets of Beijing as the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China approaches. Along Chang'an Avenue, areas such as Dongdan and Xidan have seen an increase in armed police patrols in addition to mobile police checkpoints. Local residents have reported that some overpasses are now being monitored by militia members dressed in camouflage uniforms, with guard booths established on the bridges. Concurrently, many petitioners have been forcibly removed from Beijing, and a retired soldier from Shandong has received a notice restricting his movements.

Radio Free Asia reports that the Fifth Plenary Session is scheduled to take place next week at the Jingxi Hotel in Beijing. Since Monday, there has been a significant increase in the number of sentries stationed in front of the Jingxi Hotel. Mr Li, a Beijing resident, informed Radio Free Asia that as he passed by the hotel entrance, he observed military sentries and police directing traffic, prohibiting parking within a 200-meter radius. Additionally, plainclothes personnel were seen lingering nearby, occasionally scrutinising pedestrians. During this time, individuals suspected of being petitioners were asked to present their identification, which was verified on the spot.

Militia members stationed at overpasses have established additional posts.

Mr Qin, an independent scholar based in Beijing, told Radio Free Asia that since last week, militia members in camouflage uniforms have been stationed at overpasses throughout the city, with some pedestrian bridges featuring temporary posts: "Those who are walking (tourists) and those on duty are keeping this group of police busy. In Beijing, overpasses have always had two types of posts. Currently, the individuals standing guard on the streets are all armed police. At the overpasses, some of those in camouflage are militia. There are no security guards left in Beijing; it's entirely militia and armed police now."

Mr Qin reported that he noticed armed police at several intersections along Chang'an Avenue in photos taken by friends, including at the Xinjiekou intersection, which is quite distant from Chang'an Avenue. He mentioned that Beijing has recently heightened security measures, which are linked to the upcoming Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee and several sensitive anniversaries, such as the fourth anniversary of the Sitong Bridge incident, the 107th anniversary of Zhao Ziyang's birth, and the seventh anniversary of his ashes being interred.

The Sitong Bridge incident took place on October 13, 2022. At that time, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was imminent, and dissident Peng Lifa displayed a banner at Sitong Bridge to protest against the stringent pandemic lockdown measures and called for the ousting of Xi Jinping, after which he was apprehended by the police.

As per the previously released schedule, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China is set to convene in Beijing from October 26 to 29. The 13th of this month marks the fourth anniversary of the Sitong Bridge incident, the 17th is the 107th anniversary of former General Secretary Zhao Ziyang's birth, and the 18th is the seventh anniversary of his ashes being laid to rest in Beijing.

In Shandong, veteran Mr Liu informed Radio Free Asia that, in addition to himself, others have also recently faced varying levels of surveillance by state security due to the 'sensitive dates.' He received prior notice from local police advising him not to go out. He stated, 'I know that many people have been warned not to go anywhere; I don’t even dare to go to Beijing. If I visit someone’s home, they (state security) will check on everyone, and now everyone is very passive. If you meet friends from Beijing, they will track each one down and threaten them (contacts).'

In various locations, interceptors have taken petitioners to Beijing.

Currently, Ms Sun, a petitioner from Hebei residing in Mentougou, Beijing, informed Radio Free Asia that prior to the Fifth Plenary Session, several petitioners had already been forcibly taken away by local interception personnel from areas including Nanjing, Gansu, Jilin, and Henan.

She stated, "Many were taken away the day before yesterday, forcibly intercepted by local officials. There were individuals from Nanjing, Gansu, Jilin, and Henan. It is reported that they intend to clear everyone out. It is said that they want to remove all the petitioners. However, interception personnel are currently active in various locations. Last night, the police in Beijing went out to identify targets and made arrests."

Ms Sun further disclosed that there have been recent confrontations between petitioners and interception personnel, during which the Beijing police intervened and took individuals away. She also mentioned that a petitioner named Zhang Jixin (Zhang Jixin) was warned that he might face detention for refusing to provide a statement.

Community grid workers are on night duty at the neighbourhood committee.

Reports from various sources indicate that on the eve of the Fifth Plenary Session, street offices across different districts in Beijing have deployed grid workers to residential communities for visits and investigations. A staff member from a neighbourhood committee in Chaoyang District stated that they have been on duty every night since this week until the conclusion of the Fifth Plenary Session, with their primary responsibility being to ensure that no serious incidents occur.
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