China bank protest stopped by health codes turning red, depositors say | The Straits Times

SHANGHAI (REUTERS) – A protest planned by hundreds of bank depositors in central China seeking access to their frozen funds has been thwarted because the authorities have turned their health code apps red, several depositors told Reuters. The depositors were planning to travel to the central province of Henan this week from across China to protest against an almost two-month block on accessing at least US$178 million (S$247.19 million) of deposits, which has left companies unable to pay workers and individuals unable to access savings. Rights groups have warned China could use its vast Covid-19 surveillance infrastructure to stifle dissent….