Blank paper becomes symbol of China’s protests

Blank sheets of paper have become a symbol of protests in China against the country’s strict zero-Covid policy.

Large numbers of protesters have been holding up blank sheets of paper - a tactic to protest while avoiding censorship or arrest - resulting in some calling the demonstrations the “white paper revolution”, “blank sheet revolution” or “A4 revolution”.

The trend has its roots in the 2020 Hong Kong demonstrations, where locals held blank pieces of paper to protest against the city's new national security laws.