Recent incidents of indiscriminate violence in China have sparked concerns about deepening social issues amid China’s current economic downturn. According to Taiwan-based Academia Sinica researcher Lin Zong-hong, these attacks directly correlate with deteriorating economic conditions and increasing psychological distress among lower-income citizens.
Unlike democratic societies where religious organizations, social workers, and civil groups can provide emotional outlets during economic hardship, China’s strict top-down political control severely limits such support systems. The government’s tight social control has disrupted interpersonal connections and eliminated crucial support mechanisms for mentally distressed individuals.
Experts predict that information about such violent incidents will become increasingly restricted. The authorities fear these events could trigger larger waves of public discontent and protests, similar to how the Urumqi fire incident led to the “White Paper” protests. As a result, the government is likely to further tighten information control to prevent collective grievances from emerging.
Wang Zhi-sheng, a member of the Taiwan’s Chinese Asia-Pacific Elite Exchange Association, describes Chinese society as a “pressure cooker.” With limited channels for expressing dissatisfaction with social governance, some individuals are turning to violence as a form of protest. Recent examples include a car ramming incident in Zhuhai, Guangdong (35 deaths) and a school stabbing in Yixing, Jiangsu (8 deaths, 17 injured).
The situation reflects multiple intersecting problems within Chinese society. As economic conditions worsen and social pressures mount, experts warn that without addressing the underlying issues, similar incidents may continue to occur, potentially leading to a copycat effect in what is described as an increasingly volatile social environment.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), November 19, 2024
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202411190174.aspx