What would happen if you tried to storm the Chinese leadership compound?
Chinese netizens pose the question after US woman shot dead for trying to ram her way into White House
“What would happen if you tried to drive into Zhongnanhai (the Chinese leadership compound)?” many Chinese have wondered after an unarmed US woman was shot dead last Thursday after trying to ram her way into the White House and Capitol.
The tragic incident that occurred in Washington last week has prompted many Chinese to call into question the heavy-handed response of the US security forces.
“Why would police officers fire on the woman when she was not even carrying a weapon?” many internet users asked in disbelief.
Some Chinese netizens dug out news reports on similar incidents that happened in Beijing, curious as to whether police in the capital might handle such a situation differently.
In 2005, The Beijing News reported that an unlicensed taxi had broken into Zhongnanhai’s eastern gate on a summer night close to midnight. Zhongnanhai is a former imperial garden in central Beijing and is now home to headquarters for the Communist Party of China and the cabinet, State Council.
The vehicle was eventually waved to a stop by guards after passing the police cordon. The driver reportedly told the police the intrusion was unintentional and had no idea that he had just stormed into the country’s most important leadership compound.