Supporters and Protesters of China Clash During APEC Forum | VOA News

VOA's China Branch shot footage of protesters and supporters of China clashing blocks away from the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco, California, on November 16, where Chinese President Xi Jinping is staying.

Protesters of the Israel-Hamas war, critics of the global response to climate change and other causes all turned out for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in San Francisco, where global leaders and CEOs offered tempting targets.

But the focus of demonstrators shifted more towards anti- and pro-China during the day.

Hundreds of critics of Xi marched through downtown around noon, a major protest against the leader. They moved through the city's center, chanting "Free Tibet" and "Free Hong Kong."

Headed by a police escort, the peaceful group - which stretched for multiple city blocks - blocked one of the main downtown thoroughfares, as it moved in a slow circle around the convention center's perimeter.

In the evening, ahead of the meeting between Xi and U.S. CEOs, supporters and protesters initially both lined the street.