China residents protest chemical factory expansion
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Protesters shout slogans behind a line of police officers during a protest against plans to expand a petrochemical plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Oct 27, 2012. More than a thousand people gathered in the eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo on Saturday for the protest. Protesters wearing masks gave out pamphlets denouncing the expansion of the plant by a subsidiary of China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation in the district of Zhenhai. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A protester wears a mask with a reference to the chemical paraxylene, during a protest against plans to expand a petrochemical plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Oct 27, 2012. More than a thousand people gathered in the eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo on Saturday for the protest, highlighting a major challenge for the leadership as it readies for its once-in-a-decade power transition. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Police officers arrest a protester during a protest against plans to expand a petrochemical plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Oct 27, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A protester shouts slogans during a protest against plans to expand a petrochemical plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Oct 27, 2012. More than a thousand people gathered in the eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo on Saturday for the protest, highlighting a major challenge for the leadership as it readies for its once-in-a-decade power transition. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A protester stands next to police officers as she wears a mask which reads "PX no way", in reference to the chemical paraxylene during a protest against plans to expand a petrochemical plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Oct 27, 2012. More than a thousand people gathered in the eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo on Saturday for the protest, highlighting a major challenge for the leadership as it readies for its once-in-a-decade power transition. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Police officers arrest a protester during a protest against plans to expand a petrochemical plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Oct 27, 2012. More than a thousand people gathered in the eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo on Saturday for the protest, highlighting a major challenge for the leadership as it readies for its once-in-a-decade power transition. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Protesters shout slogans behind a line of police officers during a protest against plans to expand a petrochemical plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Oct 27, 2012. More than a thousand people gathered in the eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo on Saturday for the protest. Protesters wearing masks gave out pamphlets denouncing the expansion of the plant by a subsidiary of China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation in the district of Zhenhai. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A protester wears a mask with a reference to the chemical paraxylene, during a protest against plans to expand a petrochemical plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Oct 27, 2012. More than a thousand people gathered in the eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo on Saturday for the protest, highlighting a major challenge for the leadership as it readies for its once-in-a-decade power transition. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Police officers arrest a protester during a protest against plans to expand a petrochemical plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Oct 27, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A protester shouts slogans during a protest against plans to expand a petrochemical plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Oct 27, 2012. More than a thousand people gathered in the eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo on Saturday for the protest, highlighting a major challenge for the leadership as it readies for its once-in-a-decade power transition. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A protester stands next to police officers as she wears a mask which reads "PX no way", in reference to the chemical paraxylene during a protest against plans to expand a petrochemical plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Oct 27, 2012. More than a thousand people gathered in the eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo on Saturday for the protest, highlighting a major challenge for the leadership as it readies for its once-in-a-decade power transition. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Police officers arrest a protester during a protest against plans to expand a petrochemical plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Oct 27, 2012. More than a thousand people gathered in the eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo on Saturday for the protest, highlighting a major challenge for the leadership as it readies for its once-in-a-decade power transition. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
BEIJING (AP) - Thousands of people in an eastern Chinese city clashed with police while protesting the proposed expansion of a chemical factory that they say would spew pollution and damage public health, townspeople said today.
The Zhenhai district government in Zhejiang province's Ningbo city said in a statement that a few people disrupted public order by staging sit-ins, unfurling banners, distributing fliers and obstructing roads. It said the proposed project, which would produce chemical such as ethylene and paraxylene, was under review.
Zhenhai police said protesters threw rocks and bricks at officers yesterday and that police dispersed illegal gatherings to restore the flow of traffic.
Residents, however, said the protests involved thousands of people and turned violent after authorities used tear gas to dispel the crowds and arrested participants.
