After three days of protests in the city of Ningbo, China officials announced they would stop production on the expansion of a petrochemical power plant, according to The New York Times.
Thousands of protesters in Ningbo followed other cities in China in objecting against an $8.8 billion expansion project for the chemical plant that would likely increase air pollution in China.
Protesters were particularly concerned about a chemical called PX that many residents blame for a rise in cancer in the Zhejiang Province, which the coastal city of Ningbo is a part of.
Officials agreed to stop the expansion, but residents say they are skeptical of this decision based on the timing, which precedes upcoming meetings to decide new leaders for China beginning Nov. 8, according to the New York Times.
An estimated 100 people were arrested during the protests, but most were later released.
The protests started last week when farmers of the city blocked streets near the plant. Saturday’s protests became violent after riot police shot tear gas and beat protesters.
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