Writer Wang Qingmin's series of political expression activities in the 75th Berlinale

On February 13 at 18:30, I (Chinese writer Wang Qingmin) stood in the audience area during the red carpet entrance of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. As Chinese celebrities such as Yao Chen and Fan Bingbing walked in, I shouted slogans in both Chinese and English: “Redress June 4th,” “Never forget the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre,” “Never forget the White Paper Movement,” and “Build a democratic China.”

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After the opening ceremony on the red carpet concluded, I stood at the exit, holding posters supporting the Chinese people’s solidarity with South Koreans in defending democracy against dictatorship (commemorating both the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement and the 1989 Tiananmen Movement) and demanding the release of Chinese political prisoners like Xu Zhiyong. I chanted slogans and distributed leaflets.

After holding up posters and shouting slogans advocating for Chinese human rights, the release of Xu Zhiyong, Guo Feixiong, Ding Jiaxi, Hao Jinsong, and other political prisoners, as well as supporting South Korean democracy for over an hour, I took a short break. I then held up posters opposing the removal of the “comfort women” statues and condemning Japanese war crimes. I originally planned to continue for a longer period but stopped when the crowd dwindled.

As I displayed my posters on Chinese human rights, support for South Korean democracy, and condemnation of Japan’s wartime atrocities, many people took photos and expressed their support.

Chinese people should actively express themselves, support others in speaking out, and promote civil rights in China.

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While I was displaying my posters, two young Chinese individuals asked me if I was pro-Taiwan independence. When distributing leaflets, they asked again, saying, “As long as you’re not pro-independence, that’s fine.”

Of course, I do not support Taiwan independence; I even oppose it. However, I can still respect some moderate pro-independence advocates (excluding those who are blatantly pro-Japan and anti-China). Many mainland Chinese have been brainwashed into thinking that Taiwan independence is an unforgivable crime.

The real issue is not about independence itself but whether something benefits the people of mainland China.

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Today (February 13), it snowed all day in Berlin. The red carpet viewing area and the place where I displayed my posters were both under snowfall. I stood for several hours in the snow, holding up my posters and shouting slogans.

When I shouted slogans after the Chinese celebrities walked the red carpet, a few female fans nearby sarcastically said, “Can this guy calm down?” and “Security should drag him out.” I ignored them. I was fighting for democracy and human rights for the Chinese people, while they were ignorant and selfish.

Later, as I held up my posters, several Chinese people approached me with questions and expressed support and concern. Some foreigners also inquired about my message, and a South Korean even thanked me for supporting South Korean democracy. I handed out relevant leaflets.

Overall, the responses were mostly positive. Other protests on different issues were also present. Political expression is normal, but Chinese people are simply not used to it.

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Political expression is common and normal at film festivals and artistic events. At the Berlin International Film Festival opening red carpet, an activist (later identified as Luisa Neubauer, a climate activist, not an actress) displayed a message condemning Trump and Musk for undermining democracy. The big screen even zoomed in on it.

At the beginning of the event, some people raised their hands painted red, symbolizing blood, and scattered leaflets to protest sexual violence in the film industry.

What I did was completely normal—only some Chinese people overreacted. Most Chinese people are the real anomaly in the world.

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On February 14, before the Chinese film Living The Land, I stood outside the ticket check-in area/display entrance holding posters calling for the release of Xu Zhiyong and other political prisoners, the redress of June 4th, the end of one-party rule, and the establishment of a democratic China.

Afterward, I entered the theater to watch the film. Upon realizing it was about Henan province, I took out my “Mountain and River Four Provinces(Shanxi, Shandong, Henan, Hebei) " equal rights poster, urging people to recognize the contributions and suffering of the people in these provinces.

Later, I displayed posters opposing the removal of “comfort women” statues and calling for remembrance of Japanese war crimes. I emphasized that for the sake of women, children, justice, peace, and the present and future, we must remember past tragedies.

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Not only did I attend the Living The Land, but I also visited three other screenings of the film. After each screening, as the audience exited, I held up my “Four Provinces of Mountains and Rivers” poster and distributed related leaflets.

Thousands of people passed by during the displays. At least 500 international and Chinese viewers stopped to take a careful look, some took posters, and many expressed their support.

I hope the contributions and struggles of the “Mountain and River (Shan He) Four Provinces” become known to the world and gradually bring change.

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I took advantage of screenings with many Chinese attendees to hold up the “Mountain and River (Shan He) Four Provinces” posters, distribute leaflets, and shout slogans:

Shanxi, Shandong, Henan, Hebei—the Four Provinces of Mountains and Rivers—contribute much but receive little!

• Birthplace of Chinese civilization, workforce for China’s rise, the factory of the world.

• Unequal education distribution, low college admission rates, the “Hengshui Model” tormenting millions of students.

• Most people are non-state enterprise workers, farmers, migrant workers, with poor medical and pension security.

• Women, the elderly, children, disabled individuals, and LGBTQ groups have little voice, few rights, and lack safety and legal protection.

We demand fairness and justice!

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At one event, I encountered a "Pinky(China Government supporter)" Chinese student. At first, I thought he supported me, but then he said I shouldn’t “smear the country” and that I should be “objective” (I was, of course, being objective). He claimed my activism was not beneficial and even said China was safer than Germany.

I responded, “You belong to the privileged class, so of course, your perspective is different. Ordinary people are cheap labor, which is why you have a better life than people in developed countries.”

I brought up how China’s zero-COVID policy had devastated many, causing unemployment and bankruptcies. He defended it, saying it was for public health. I countered, “Smoking and drinking also increase mortality rates.” He then mentioned protecting the elderly and children. I asked, “How many people died because lockdowns prevented them from getting timely medical treatment?”

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On the evening of February 17, after the screening of the documentary The Sense of Violence, which depicts the repression of the people during South Korea’s authoritarian era, I displayed posters outside the cinema. The posters expressed the Chinese people’s support for South Korea’s democracy, opposition to dictatorship, and solidarity with the struggles of the Korean people. I also hoped to raise awareness about China’s own democratic movements, including the 1989 pro-democracy movement.

I called on the Korean, German, and global communities to help China achieve democratization.

Although there weren’t many passersby, I was willing to endure the cold for two hours. I also placed flyers in front of me, and at least a dozen were taken. I hope these materials can plant the seed of concern for China’s democracy in people’s hearts.

I stood in the cinema’s entrance area for over an hour and forty minutes. Due to a mistake in estimating the movie’s end time, I waited longer than expected. The temperature was around -10°C with a biting wind.

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At around 13:30 on February 19, after the screening of a South Korean film at Capitol Dahlem Cinema, I displayed posters showing Chinese people’s support for Koreans in defending democracy. The posters also criticized Chun Doo-hwan, Yoon Suk-yeol, and Li Peng, and commemorated the Gwangju Uprising and the June 4th Tiananmen Massacre.

After the movie ended, I distributed flyers and encouraged Korean and other international audiences to care about democracy and human rights in China. Some viewers stopped to read the posters and expressed their support.

Long live democracy!

I went again on the 21st. In reality, most Koreans and other passersby remained indifferent when they saw the posters. I was simply doing my best without expecting much impact.

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In the past few days, I have been constantly on the move, coughing, suffering from internal heat, and experiencing mild fever. Emotionally, I’ve had ups and downs. I can only say that I did my best.

Berlin had heavy snow a few days ago, and now the snow is melting, making it extremely cold. Standing outside in the winter, holding signs, distributing flyers, and posting posters was exhausting.

But ultimately, this was my own choice.

The truth is, these efforts cannot be carried out by just one person—they require thousands and millions of people. Yet, millions of Chinese people are unwilling to take action.

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On the evening of February 19, I attended the screening of After Colossus, a Dutch-Indonesian short film about human rights violations under Indonesia’s military government, at Filmtheater Colosseum.

After the screening, I stood at the entrance and loudly condemned the 1965 and 1998 anti-Chinese massacres in Indonesia. I called on the Dutch government and people to recognize their moral responsibility and support the Chinese-Indonesian community. I also chanted slogans such as “Down with Suharto,” “Down with Prabowo,” and “Down with the Indonesian military government.”

After the Hong Kong anti-extradition protests and the National Security Law crackdown, the UK granted BNO passports to a large number of Hongkongers, allowing them to seek asylum and settle permanently in Britain.

However, the Chinese-Indonesian community, which suffered far worse persecution than Hongkongers, received no aid from their former colonial ruler and collaborator, the Netherlands. This is unacceptable.

In reality, different groups have different levels of strategic value, which determines how much their lives are valued and how much attention and support they receive.

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On February 22, after the Berlin Film Festival closing ceremony, I attended another film screening involving Dutch participation, focusing on the Ukraine conflict. I took this opportunity to once again urge the Dutch government and people to acknowledge their responsibility and support the Chinese-Indonesian community. However, most of the audience was more concerned with Ukraine, and there weren’t many Dutch viewers.

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At around 17:50 on February 22, during the red carpet event of the Berlin Film Festival closing ceremony, I chanted in both English and Chinese:

• “Never forget the Nanjing Massacre!”

• “Never forget Japan’s war crimes!”

• “For women and children!”

• “For justice and peace!”

I also held up posters displaying images of the Nanjing Massacre atrocities and Iris Shunru Chang’s book The Rape of Nanking.

Additionally, I shouted:

• “Long live an independent, democratic, and free China!”

• “I urge the world to recognize the suffering and human rights issues faced by the Chinese people and to help them!”

• “Long live the Republic of China!”

Finally, I expressed my gratitude to everyone present.

I deliberately chose a time slot when no actors were walking the red carpet, ensuring that I did not disrupt the event or the film festival’s closing ceremony.

A large portion of the audience inside the venue heard and saw my demonstration, and several journalists took photographs. I hope this will help raise global awareness about this history and the suffering of the Chinese people, and aid them in their quest for happiness and justice.

During the film festival, I also posted and distributed small flyers on topics such as:

• Chinese feminism

• The plight of Chinese-Indonesians

• Equal rights for the “Four Provinces” movement (Shanxi, Henan, Heibei and Shandong)

• Expressing gratitude to Hong Kong’s traditional pro-democracy activists

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On the afternoon of February 23, after the screening of Living The Land at Uber Eats Cinema, I displayed and distributed flyers about the “Mountain and River (Shan He) Four Provinces” equal rights movement. With this, I officially concluded my series of advocacy activities at the film festival.

Over the past ten days, I have experienced both successes and setbacks. I received support and encouragement but also faced obstacles and harassment. Many small challenges are difficult to put into words.

At least tens of thousands of people saw my materials, including at least a thousand Chinese individuals. The overall response was more positive than negative.

I would say it was barely satisfactory.

Personally, I am also grateful to Living The Land because it tells a story about Henan, which helped me raise awareness of the “Mountain and River Four Provinces” movement.

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Since around February 19, I have been suffering from a cold, fever, coughing, and nausea, in addition to internal inflammation. Except for one day of rest, I carried out my activities despite being sick.

I endured nausea while rushing between screenings, displaying posters, distributing flyers, answering questions, and dealing with obstacles and disruptions.

These hardships are difficult to fully describe in words.

During the Berlin Film Festival, I also participated in two other events:

February 14, 11:30-13:30: I joined the February 14 Climate Crisis Rally at the Brandenburg Gate. I displayed posters about China’s climate crisis, the Henan drought, and floods in various regions, calling on the world to recognize climate change’s impact on China and to fight this crisis together. I also distributed flyers. Thousands of people saw my materials, and many expressed their support.

February 15 Afternoon: I unexpectedly encountered an LGBT and anti-fascist march in Berlin. I held up posters advocating for Chinese feminism and celebrating outstanding Chinese women, calling for women’s rights and human rights in China.

The posters featured the names of great and suffering Chinese women.

I have always said that I hope every Chinese person can become a manifesto, sower, and messenger for China’s human rights, national interests, and social justice.