"Act of defiance against China’s ruling party lasted less than an hour"

When police saw a slogan beamed on to the side of a building in a university district of the major Chinese city of Chongqing, they sprang into action.

The slogan called for the overthrow of the Communist Party. “Freedom is not a gift, it must be seized back,” it said.

“Rise up, people who refuse to be slaves, rise up and resist to reclaim your rights. Down with red fascism, overthrow the Communist tyranny.”

It took 50 minutes, according to observers, for the police to find the projector. It was beaming its message from an empty bedroom in the nearby Mama Hotel. When they entered, the police found a letter explaining the perpetrator’s grievances with the CCP, and appealing for those who found it to be merciful on the CCP’s critics.

Of the perpetrator himself, there was no sign — because, according to the man who has claimed responsibility for the action, he was already in London.

“I set it up so I could trigger it remotely,” he told The Times, giving his name as Qi Hong, which he said was not a pseudonym. “I had booked the room for several days, and I told the staff it didn’t need room service.

“Then I left and went with my wife and children to the airport, and flew to Britain. Once I was there, I pressed play.”...

Qi also acknowledged his family back in China might pay a price — his brother was immediately traced and, he believed, was still under arrest.

Anti-CCP slogans were projected on a building in Chongqing for about 50 minutes