Chinese middle class protesters challenge chemical plant in Dalian, 2011

When the tropical storm Muifa broke along the shore of the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian on 8 August 2011 it broke through the protective dike in front of the Jinzhou Industrial Complex.  The dike was immediately protecting some 20 metal tanks holding oil-based chemicals at the Fujia Chemical Plant.  The Chinese government dispatched emergency workers, the Dalian Border Guard, and the military to provide emergency repairs to the dike.  Local residents near the plant were evacuated.

The Chinese government reported later that week that no chemicals escaped, but residents expressed their concerns on the Sina Micro blog (Weibo) that they did not trust the government’s report.  Local television host Bai-Yansong publicly complained when a CCTV (China’s government-controlled news source) show on dangerous projects in Dalian was cancelled.  When his micro blog was frozen, he created a new account and criticized government infringement on “the public information sphere.”  Other reports indicate that journalists inquiring at the Fujia plant that week had been denied and detained.  When official reports were leaked that the plant had not fulfilled initial environmental impact tests, residents became increasingly incensed.

Resident concern over the danger of the Fujia Plant spread widely in Dalian following the storm and the public censorship of information.  Residents began to call for the removal of the plant and the paraxylene that the plant produced.  Paraxylene (PX) is a benzene-based chemical used to make polyester products as well as plastic bags and bottles.  PX is carcinogenic and can cause severe damage to vital organs and death.

It is unclear what group or individual organized the protest against the Fujia plant, but reports indicate that a poster was spread about the micro blogs on 13 August calling for a “group stroll” on Sunday 14 August from 10am on the People’s Square toward the Municipal Government Building in Dalian.  The term “stroll” had been previously adopted by other grassroots activists in China as a euphemism for protest marches.  Blog posts also show that during the week of 8 August, Dalians were increasingly talking about the 2007 protest in the coastal town of Xiamen, which successfully led to the shutdown of a PX plant in that region (see “Chinese residents force relocation of chemical plant in Xiamen, 2007”).

Reports indicate that an initial group of protesters gathered at the Municipal Building and commenced a sit-in there early Sunday morning.  The identity of this first group has yet to be confirmed, and researchers are encouraged to examine the uncensored local newspaper reports provided by the Chinese Media Project.

By midday Sunday 14 August official government estimates report over 12,000 protesters gathered in front of the Dalian Municipal Government Building.  Other estimates run as high as 70,000 protesters.  There were many riot police, though specific numbers are unknown.  Though some scuffles were reported by government media, including the throwing of water bottles at police officers, the protesters remained widely nonviolent and details of the scuffles were unclear.  It is reported that at one point the protesters broke out in song, singing the Chinese national anthem.

Marchers were clearly highly organized, with preprinted shirts, signs, and slogans stating “Get out Fujia PX!,” “PX out!,” “I love Dalian and reject poison!,” and “Protect Dalian!” amongst others.  Though the identity of organizers is not yet known, it is widely accepted that social media and micro blogging were crucial for the spread of information amongst Dalian residents.

In an attempt to disperse the crowds, local Communist Party Secretary Tang Jun climbed atop a police vehicle to address the crowds that Sunday.  He promised to close and move the Fujia plant but was met with chants of “Time!” “When will it move!,” and protesters did not disperse.

An official report that the Fujia plant would be immediately shut down came later Sunday night.  On Monday morning, reports show that the plant was still operating, but protesters largely dispersed.  Later that day the plant was shut down and it was confirmed that it would be moved to an undecided location away from Dalian.

Censors attempted to erase Internet posts referring to the Dalian protest and the authorities blocked searches for the terms “PX,” “Dalian” and “Dalian Protests” for a number of weeks after the event.  Citizens often reposted pictures with euphemistic captions, or no reference to the location in order to get media through the censors.  In particular, the government has sought to erase all reference to Tang Jun’s attempt to directly disperse protesters by addressing their demands.

Despite intense censorship, word of the success of the Dalian protest circulated throughout China and has been cited as inspiration for a number of more recent grassroots environmental protests, including the successful closure of a polluting solar panel plant in Haining (see “Chinese farmers protest solar panel plant pollution, 2011”).