The popular movements for democracy that have spread across the Middle East, from Tunisia to Egypt, Bahrain, Libya and beyond, have inspired so many people around the world. In China, there have been online calls for a Chinese ‘Jasmine Revolution’. Organisers have posted a list of places in  major cities where people can “go for a stroll” every Sunday at 2 p.m to express their desire for democracy.

Calls for peaceful protests for democracy have been spreading via Twitter and by word of mouth. Because Twitter is blocked in China, the calls are only circulated online by and to those who know how to bypass government censors. There have been numerous reports of a spate of arrests of at least 100 advocates of democracy - lawyers, academics, artists and others -  for “inciting subversion of state power” after internet users reposted calls for protests.  

Eyes will remain on China in the coming weeks; if the authorities respond to peaceful protests with disproportionate force, as has been their tendency, the approach may backfire and fuel calls for social change across China and Tibet.

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