Introduction With the growing market of petroleum products, the Chinese government intended to expand the petroleum refinery plant in Ningbo. The Chinese government planned to expand the petroleum plant using 8.9 billion of dollars. The local government of Ningbo city backed the expansion of the petroleum plant because it aimed at promoting industrial development in the city. The New York Times in October this year argued that since environmentalists understood the potential pollution that the project posed on Ningbo and its environs, they objected to the government’s expansion plans (Jacobs Para. 7). The production of a toxic chemical, which is a potent pollutant to the environment, had serious effects on health of the people. Moreover, other industries in the city have contributed to massive pollution, which has led to the emergence of cancer and other illnesses associated with pollution. Understanding the danger that the project posed on the environment and their health, the citizens went on a three-day protest on streets where they battled with the police. The government used force to disperse protestors who continued to protest even after the government announced that it had shelved the expansion plans. The situation led to the question as to whether the response by the police was justified or was inappropriate. Therefore, this essay examines the arguments for and against the government’s actions with a view of presenting my view on them. Arguments that Supports Government Actions The government has the prerogative to exercise its economic plans without undue influence from members of the public. The local government of Ningbo planned to expand its industrial capacity so that citizens could get employment in the sector. Moreover, the expansion of the petroleum plant was economically important because it would increase the gross domestic product of China. Since the government had good intentions of enhancing the economic capacity of China, protestors interfered with the plans, thus affecting economic development. Reports airing in the British Broadcasting Corporation immediately after the protests indicated, “Some claim that the people in Ningbo scored a victory, but we hold that when deciding a heavy chemical project through such protests, there is no winner, but the whole country loses” (British Broadcasting Corporation Para. 3). The Chinese government lost billions of dollars following the protestors’ objection to the expansion of the petroleum plant, yet they need economic development now than ever before. Thus, the response by the government to disperse protesters was justifiable as the project had economic significance to China and its people including the protestors. Although the main reason why the Chinese citizens held demonstrations was to stop the government from implementing the proposed extensions of the petroleum refinery plant, the protestors continued demonstrating even after the government shelved its expansion plans. One protester revealed, “there is very little public confidence in the government …who knows if they are saying this just to make us leave and then keep on doing the project” (Wong Para. 5). The shift in the demonstrators’ reasonin