2025 Chongqing anti-CCP protest

The incident took place on the eve of the Chinese Communist Party's 2025 China Victory Day Parade (or "September 3 Military Parade"), an event held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. In the lead-up to this large-scale parade, the Chinese government's control over public opinion and dissenting voices had reached an unprecedented level. Although Peng was later arrested and incarcerated, his actions were reported to have inspired others. == Incident ==

The projection action began at around 22:00 on August 29 and lasted nearly 50 minutes. The projection site was near Xijie, the core commercial area of University Town, surrounded by multiple universities and heavy foot traffic. The letter was dated August 16, indicating preparations had begun at least two weeks earlier. Handwritten letter to law enforcement Radio Canada International reprinted the message left by the activist in the hotel, a handwritten note addressing the police as "friend": == Activist and motivation ==

The activist, Qi Hong, was 43 years old during the time of the incident and was from a remote mountainous area of Chongqing. In Guangdong and Beijing, he was repeatedly detained and beaten for lacking a temporary residence permit and being mistakenly identified as a Falun Gong practitioner. which deepened his understanding of state coercion. he moved his family back to Chongqing and worked as an electrician. He pointed out that such blind patriotism and historical revisionism would damage young people's minds, fostering hatred and destruction. == Aftermath ==

Although Qi Hong operated the projection remotely from abroad, Chinese authorities retaliated. Police issued no official statement, but on the next day (August 30), they detained one of Qi Hong's brothers and a friend, questioned his mother at the family home, and confiscated his personal belongings, including computers and books. Qi Hong, however, had anticipated the interrogation and had secretly installed surveillance cameras that recorded the entire process, which he later posted online, generating potential controversy over law enforcement conduct. Radio Free Asia reported that students around University Town were also affected. A recent graduate said that after the slogans appeared, news quickly spread in class groups: "Everyone was sharing it, saying it was shocking and a little nerve-wracking." Counselors immediately issued warnings in the group chats, instructing students to "speak less and avoid commenting". On August 30, the campus atmosphere had noticeably changed, with plainclothes police stationed throughout the area and additional checkpoints at school entrances. == Response ==

The incident's videos quickly drew widespread attention online. Within four days, footage of the projected slogans had over 18 million views. The social media account Teacher Li Is Not Your Teacher commented that Qi Hong "outsmarted the police and successfully manipulated state machinery", calling it an "extremely cool" action. They noted that Qi Hong's success, despite authorities deploying extensive resources to maintain stability ahead of the September 3 parade, "seriously undermined" the government and demonstrated that CCP control is not airtight. Japanese journalist Akio Yaita stated that the content of Qi Hong's letter to the police represented the "truth about China". The New York Times requested a comment from Chongqing police regarding the incident; the department did not respond. ==See also==