Shock move as Beijing calls off St. Patrick’s Day parade

Chinese police fear plans for unlawful demonstrations

MOLLY MULDOON,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Thursday, March 17, 2011, 8:14 AM

Updated Thursday, March 17, 2011, 8:14 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

8 Comments

St Patrick's Day Parade Beijing in years gone by

READ MORE- Shanghai St. Patrick’s Day parade canceled over fears of uprising

The planned St. Patrick’s Day parade this Sunday in the Chinese capital, Beijing, has been canceled amid security concerns that Internet calls for protests similar to the “Jasmine revolutions” ripping through the Middle East could spread to China.

The parade was due to take place in Chaoyang Park, which is situated several kilometers from the downtown Wangfujing shopping street.

The decision to cancel the parade represents the latest disappointment for China’s Irish community after the Shanghai parade was cancelled last week.

No formal reasons for cancelling he parade have been given, but sources say that Chaoyang municipal authorities stepped into cancel the celebrations following a decision by the Public Security Bureau.

Several thousand people had been expected to attend the parade. There are around 350 Irish citizens living in Beijing.

Nster.com

E-mail

8 Comments

See all comments

Thomas84 | Mar 13, 2013, 11:18 AM EDT

george , st patrick was a foreigner .......

Report abuse

GeorgeDillon | Mar 20, 2011, 08:58 AM EDT

downunderryan: Good point. You see, the Irish think their own culture is not trendy or interesting. They're ashamed of anything that is truly Irish (and by that I don't mean the stupid leprechaunism kitsch). That's why the St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin is now dominated by Pakistanis, Indians and Chinese. No sane country celebrates its national day by asking foreigners to celebrate their cultures, but the stupid Irish do.

Report abuse

Downunderyan | Mar 19, 2011, 09:38 PM EDT

Judging from the video of the St Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin on RTE internet service, there were plenty of Chinese people enjoying the festivities in Ireland.

Report abuse

srdools | Mar 17, 2011, 10:34 PM EDT

sorry about the spelling mrs. farrel(fifth grade teacher)

Report abuse

srdools | Mar 17, 2011, 10:29 PM EDT

Yeah the chinese are not real big on promoting R E L I G E O N ! S A I N T P A T R I C K ! H E L L O !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Report abuse

ciarrai | Mar 17, 2011, 08:05 PM EDT

Can I get #11 with corned beef?

Report abuse

BishopSean | Mar 17, 2011, 02:07 PM EDT

The Chinese are smart enough to know that the Irish are freedom-loving independent thinkers. They don't want to celebrate such traits. Slan and congrats to IC for the good work they do.

Report abuse

citizen69 | Mar 17, 2011, 12:40 PM EDT

What a strange reason to cancel the parade!

Report abuse