New Delhi, Delhi, India

China is fighting criticism from around the world and within, and it is continuing to resort to its typical method to fight the dissent by silencing the source of criticism!

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Be it a doctor fighting the outbreak on the frontlines or a student protesting in a university campus. The Chinese regime discredited the doctor who first warned of the coronavirus which has killed more than 190,000 people worldwide. While 2.7 million people have been infected.

Also read: 'No question, we're doomed this year': China's wet markets amid pandemic

Doctor Yu Xiangdong, a senior medical professional on the frontlines of fighting the coronavirus in Wuhan has become the Chinese regime's latest victim.

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Dr Yu is well known for promoting modern medicine amongst the Chinese. He has nearly a million followers on social media on which he has been pointing out the flaws in the Chinese government's response to the pandemic.

Over the past few months, Dr Yu has been criticising the official practice of using antibiotics to treat the Wuhan virus, and has slammed the communist government-approved Chinese medicine treatment for COVID-19.

Now, his online commentary has enraged the Chinese state as the officials accused him of slandering disease prevention measures of the state and attacking Chinese traditional medicine.

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Also read: Worldwide coronavirus cases pass 2 million; death toll rises to 136,908

The government demoted the Dr Yu from his current position as deputy director of the Wuhan hospital. 

The government has also censored his social media posts. All his commentary on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform has suddenly vanished.

Dr Yu is not an exception. The Communist government has been silencing doctors.

In December, whistleblower doctor Li Wenliang hounded for altering authorities about the outbreak.

In February, he was accused of spreading false rumours and forced to retract his statements. Weeks later he died of the virus.

His death sparked massive outrage across the country, forcing the government officially honoured doctor Li as a martyr which is the highest recognition bestowed on a Chinese citizen.

Those who don't die are forced to change their tune. For example, journalist Li Zehua. She exposed the state's response, was detained for two months.

After release, Li resurfaced as a changed man singing praises of the government.

The long arm of Chinese censors reaches foreigners too.

A Queensland University student name Drew Pavlou from Australia is the latest target.

Drew was part of the pro-Hong Kong protests on campus in July last year. The protests continued for months and often turned violent during which in one of the incidents, Pavlou was assaulted by the pro-china protesters.

Now he facing inquiry on multiple charges of misconduct.

An online petition is surfacing on the internet in support of Pavlou. It has been signed by more than 20,000.