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Shifang students prevent copper plant construction, China, 2012

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Summary

On 29 June 2012, the Shifang government in Sichuan province announced a molybdenum-copper alloy factory that high-school students estimated would pollute a 60 km radius, including the provincial capital Chengdu. [source: nv-database] Students distributed pamphlets and posters across the city; on 2 July, hundreds began a sit-in at the gate of the Shifang Municipal Government Compound, where riot police used tear gas, stun grenades, batons, and gunfire, injuring at least 13. [source: nv-database] On 3 July, tens of thousands gathered, including parents of detained students chanting “Release the people!”; that night the government terminated the project, released 21 detainees, and demoted party chief Li Chengjin. [source: nv-database]

Tactics used

Background

On 29 June 2012, the Shifang government in Sichuan province announced the construction of a molybdenum-copper alloy factory; high-school students in the area were concerned about the factory’s environmental impacts. [source: nv-database] Reports estimated the factory would pollute a radius of 60 km, encompassing Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. [source: nv-database]

What happened

High-school students sent the government a petition calling for it to cancel the construction, and also distributed pamphlets and posters over the entire city to raise awareness and rally residents against the refinery’s construction. [source: nv-database] High schools threatened to expel the student activists if they continued their protests, but later that day thousands gathered in the Shifang public square and in front of government buildings in protest. [source: nv-database] On 2 July 2012, hundreds of protesters began a sit-in at the gate of the Shifang Municipal Government Compound and signed their names on a banner; riot police used tear gas, stun grenades, batons, and gunfire on the demonstrators. [source: nv-database] At least 13 were injured, though the government denied any casualties. [source: nv-database] Many protesters and witnesses posted personal accounts, videos, and pictures on Weibo; one Weibo user reported that the government had bribed residents living near the plant with 20,000 yuan (about US $3,148) in hush money, and another posted about a restaurant owner who had refused to serve a police officer in protest against police violence. [source: nv-database] On 3 July 2012, police attacked protesters again with tear gas and grenades, arresting 28 people, including several students. [source: nv-database] That evening tens of thousands of people gathered in front of the gate to the government compound, demanding the release of the detained students; many were parents of the detained students and chanted “Release the people!” [source: nv-database] Students from nearby Guanghan also joined the protests. [source: nv-database] By the end of the night, the government had given in and announced it would terminate the project, and police released 21 detainees later that night, though three were formally arrested on criminal charges and another three on administrative charges. [source: nv-database] The Shifang government also demoted former party chief of the Shifang City Committee, Li Chengjin, to assistant of the new first secretary Zuo Zheng. [source: nv-database]

Key people & organizations

  • Shifang high-school students (campaign initiators, distributed pamphlets) [source: nv-database]
  • Shifang residents (campaigners, including parents of detained students) [source: nv-database]
  • Students from nearby Guanghan (joined protests 3 July) [source: nv-database]
  • Shifang government and Li Chengjin (former party chief, demoted) [source: nv-database]
  • Shifang police and riot police (used tear gas, stun grenades, batons, and gunfire) [source: nv-database]
  • Weibo users (distributed videos, pictures, and accounts of police violence) [source: nv-database]
  • Restaurant owner in Shifang (refused to serve a police officer) [source: nv-database]

Outcome

Verdict: won.

The Shifang government terminated the molybdenum-copper alloy project on the night of 3 July 2012, released 21 of 28 detainees, and demoted former party chief Li Chengjin. [source: nv-database] However, three protesters were formally arrested on criminal charges and three on administrative charges, leaving a partial repressive aftermath. [source: nv-database] Per the source’s scoring rubric, the campaign scored 6 out of 6 points on achieving specific demands/goals, 1 out of 1 on survival, and 2 out of 3 on growth (9 out of 10 total). [source: nv-database]

Lessons

  • Even a small, organised student campaign can be amplified into a city-wide movement within days when distribution channels (pamphlets, posters, Weibo) are used effectively [source: nv-database]
  • Police use of severe violence (tear gas, stun grenades, batons, gunfire) against a movement that has won broad public sympathy can backfire and intensify the protests, not suppress them [source: nv-database]
  • A campaign can win the substantive demand (project termination) while losing on accountability (continued criminal charges against a few protesters); both facts need to be reported.

Sources

Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.

Sources & verification

  • nv-database — grounding: primary — license: link-only
  • Rewritten: 2026-07-04 via t6_build.py

Last verified: 2026-07-09