Video suggests numbers matter in China when tackling a ‘white paper’ protester

Footage appears to show training exercise in which 10 police officers neutralise fake demonstrator

How many police officers does it take to neutralise a single unarmed protester? According to a video purported to be from China, it takes at least 10 highly disciplined members of law enforcement, as well as some bespoke blue flags.

In footage that emerged on Thursday, black-clad officers are shown practicing a drill to surround a single person holding up a white piece of paper – an item that became the symbol of the anti-lockdown protests that rocked several major cities in China at the end of last year and the demonstrations against the security laws imposed on Hong Kong in 2020.