White House backs Chinese protesters amid heightened Beijing tensions

The Biden administration on Wednesday announced its support for the right of the Chinese people to protest against strict COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in the communist dictatorship.

"People should be allowed... the right to assemble and to peacefully protest policies or laws or dictates... that they take issue with," said White House national security spokesperson John Kirby at a press conference. "The White House supports the right of peaceful protest."

The White House did not specifically endorse the protesters' demands and simply backed their right to protest, the Epoch Times noted.

China has been embroiled in rare nationwide protests over its zero-COVID policy and the intense restrictions the regime has implemented to combat the virus.

Calls even broke out for President Xi Jinping's resignation, just months after he secured another term in office. The protesters did, however, seem to achieve some of their goals, with Beijing on Monday easing some of its lockdown measures, including a policy to block access to apartment buildings with COVID-infected residents.

The Biden administration's endorsement of dissenting elements within China comes as Washington and Beijing trade barbs over Chinese claims to Taiwan and mounting fears that Beijing could launch a maritime assault on the island while the Western world is distracted with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.