Antigovernment protests in China are stirring sympathetic activity near Chinese diplomatic missions and on university campuses around the world, adding an international dimension to a sensitive political moment. Demonstrators on Tuesday night packed the sidewalk across the street from China’s New York consulate in such numbers that they disrupted traffic and forced organizers to retreat to a nearby pier. Leading the crowd, a speaker said, “Release protesters…stand with people in China.” That was followed by someone shouting “Xi Jinping” and the crowd erupted with repeated calls of “Step down.” (https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-protests-mushroom-around-the-world-11669811448) The expressions of solidarity from New York to the streets of Istanbul are emanating from China’s vast diaspora, and specifically those frustrated with Xi Jinping‘s authoritarian leadership of the country, participants say. A spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded indirectly when asked about protests on Tuesday, saying the country enjoys rule of law.