Summary:
After calls on the internet for a Chinese 'jasmine revolution', police occupied the various intended protest sites and arrested a small number people and dispersed a small crowd, which actually appeared to curious onlookers, watching the large gathering of police and journalist, rather than political protesters. The men who were arrested shouted they were just bystanders while being dragged away by the police. None were seen shouting political slogans or doing anything to suggest they were anything other than average citizens. In response to the protest calls, the government blocked the word 'jasmine' from search engines. Hu Jintao took the opportunity to call for increased internet controls in order to "solve prominent problems which might harm the harmony and stability of the society".
Significance:
The incident, though small, makes an interesting point; even if the people aren't likely to do anything, the government is preparing for the worst. It reveals a great uneasiness among the Chinese government that the people might attempt to replicate the Middle Eastern protests. The Chinese government has since Tianmen square been fervently trying to avoid the rise of an organized opposition and are continually increasing controls and censorship. It remains to be seen if this ever more oppressive controls will actually give steam to opposition movements. For now at least the, Chinese government remains weary of any attempts to organize resistance.
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