Under Construction

At times it seems all of China is one giant building site, but the sudden emergence of construction barriers at the proposed site of Beijing’s “Jasmine Revolution” is raising eyebrows.

French journalist Jordan Pouille documented the curious barriers that went up this week in front of a McDonald’s restaurant where several hundred demonstrators gathered last weekend in central Beijing and were quickly dispersed by police. An anonymous letter posted online this week called for a repeat this Sunday at the same spot – along with 17 other cities. The barricades would prevent crowds from gathering as they did on Feb. 20.

This is not an unprecedented tactic for controlling potential demonstrations in China’s carefully managed security theater. Way back in 1999, China’s Tiananmen Square was closed for rennovations in the days leading up to the 10th anniversary of the government’s crackdown on protests there.