Protesters in China opposing lockdowns imposed under the pretext of fighting COVID-19 should not be physically assaulted or intimidated, White House national security official John Kirby said Tuesday.

“We don’t want to see protesters physically harmed, intimidated or coerced in any way. That’s what peaceful protest is all about and that’s what we have continued to stand up for whether it’s in China or Iran or elsewhere around the world...,” he told CNN.

Chinese authorities are searching for those who gathered for protests over the weekend, protesters in Beijing told Reuters.

China's Foreign Ministry says rights and freedoms must be exercised within the law.