The annual meetings of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People’s Congress (NPC) of the Chinese Communist Party were held on March 4th and 5th, respectively. Beijing and other major cities nationwide have entered a state of stability maintenance. Taxi drivers in Beijing, as contacted by Hong Kong media journalists, are avoiding going to the CPPCC and NPC news center at the Media Center, citing road closures and heightened security around Tiananmen Square as reasons for refusing passengers.
During the CPPCC and NPC sessions every year, Beijing deploys hundreds of thousands of security personnel, tightens security measures, and investigates any suspicions. Armed patrol vehicles of the police carry out 24-hour dynamic controls. This year’s meetings are held against the backdrop of internal and external challenges, and the news center remains located at the Media Center.
The Media Center is situated along Beijing’s main traffic artery, the north side of West Chang’an Avenue. Hong Kong’s “Ming Pao” newspaper reported on March 4 that one of their reporters planned to travel from Wangfujing to the Media Center where the CPPCC and NPC news center is located. Hailing a taxi from the roadside, the reporter was told by the driver that the destination was inaccessible due to road closures with the excuse of Tiananmen Square being under strict security. After passing two intersections, the driver asked the reporter to get off, suggesting taking the subway instead and even offered to “drop you at the subway station on the way without charging.”
The reporter hailed another taxi, and this time the driver honestly admitted, “There’s heavy traffic congestion; taking the subway might be quicker,” and promptly drove away, indicating the nearby subway entrance.
As noted in the report, the reporter eventually opted to ride a shared bicycle, heading westwards along Chang’an Avenue. Shortly after departure, they encountered two checkpoints in front of Tiananmen Square. In addition to showing identification, one checkpoint required cyclists to open their backpacks for inspection, a procedure that was not necessary when passing through the same area last October.
Covering an almost 10-kilometer journey from Wangfujing to Yu Yuan Tan, the raised caution lines on pedestrian bridges and the prevalence of uniformed personnel everywhere serve as clear signs that the time of the CPPCC and NPC meetings has commenced.