Outrage in Chengdu Highlights CCP’s Mistreatment of People Without Privilege of Rank or Status

An empty road is seen in Chengdu in Sichuan Province, China, as the provincial capital city suffers under COVID-19 lockdown on Sept. 2, 2022. (CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Commentary

On May 13, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, became the focus of widespread attention on the ills of social status disparities. A confrontation ensued after a migrant worker allegedly came into contact with a vehicle owned by the mother of Chengdu’s mayor. The investigation led to the worker’s arrest by local authorities. Perceived by many as unfair, thousands of people joined in protest over the incident. Law enforcement intervened to disperse the crowd, resulting in additional arrests.

Chengdu, known for its laid-back lifestyle in mainland China, where residents often engage in tranquil activities like tea drinking and card-playing, was thrust into the spotlight due to this unexpected turn of events. The incident underscores the growing tension between government officials and the public, suggesting broader discontent was simmering within the populace.

Thousands Angered by Disparate Treatment of Migrant

During the “Pinnacle View” program, independent television producer Li Jun discussed the incident that occurred around 4 p.m. on May 12. A migrant worker allegedly touched a Jeep parked on the street in Chengdu while passing by it. Angered by this, the vehicle’s elderly owner got out of the car and accused the worker of damaging her vehicle and demanding compensation of 10,000 yuan ($1,380). According to state media, CCTV, only a minor scratch was found on the car’s rear mudguard.

When the worker refused to comply with the demand for payment and asserted his innocence, the owner slapped him and called the police. She then proceeded to threaten to ruin his life and alleged her son was the mayor, online reports allege.

Subsequently, about 20 police officers arrived at the scene, forming a human wall to protect the Jeep and its owner. They forcibly restrained the worker, handcuffed him, and attempted to take him away. Witnessing what they perceived as unjust treatment, bystanders voiced their outrage, demanding the worker’s release.

According to eyewitnesses and videos posted online, tensions mounted into the early hours of May 13, when the crowd swelled, possibly numbering in the thousands or even tens of thousands. Eventually, law enforcement intervened, arresting the worker and several protesters while allowing the elderly woman and her Jeep to depart unhindered.

Mr. Li continued, “Despite later attempts by CCTV to refute the claim that the woman’s son held the position of mayor, skepticism persisted among the public. The swift and disproportionate response from law enforcement, including the deployment of numerous officers to protect the woman’s vehicle, only served to reinforce suspicions of her connections to high-ranking officials.” This incident, according to Mr. Li, “epitomizes a troubling pattern of privileged individuals exploiting their status to oppress ordinary citizens, with government officials wielding their authority to intimidate and bully civilians.”

Chengdu Incident Heralds Mounting Tensions Under CCP

Guo Jun, editor-in-chief of the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times, offered her thoughts on “Pinnacle View” on the escalating social tensions within mainland China. She emphasized the prevailing belief that the stability of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) hinges on “two pivotal factors: a significant economic downturn and potential conflict with foreign nations.”

She said a spectrum of conflicts, spanning trade disputes to technological rivalries, suggests a multifaceted state of warfare, with the looming specter of military confrontation on the horizon. Internally, China grapples with economic turmoil characterized by soaring unemployment rates, dwindling personal finances, stagnant wages, and austerity measures impacting civil servants. Concurrently, numerous infrastructure projects remain unfinished, exacerbating public discontent and fueling vigilantism.

Ms. Guo highlighted the CCP’s unprecedented measures to maintain social order, leveraging advanced surveillance technologies to scrutinize citizens’ activities, including online behavior and financial transactions. Instances of perceived dissent are swiftly quashed, underscoring the omnipresent reach of state control, reminiscent of the Mao Zedong era but magnified by digital surveillance capabilities.

Ms. Guo also depicted social collapse theories as a chain reaction, wherein singular events catalyze broader upheaval. “While the CCP’s autocratic model adeptly intercepts nascent dissent, the CCP’s system is still effective in this regard. However, the trend is dangerous. The underlying discontent simmers beneath the surface, like the pressurized steam in a sealed vessel, primed for explosive release.”

Crucially, grassroots officials serve as linchpins in averting systemic breakdowns. Their efficacy in managing localized grievances is pivotal in forestalling widespread unrest. Ms. Guo cited an online post that saying the CCP could solve the national healthcare issue with one trillion yuan but could also spend 80 billion yuan to add one million armed police to suppress any discontent. So why spend one trillion when 80 billion is enough? The problem is if an economic crisis hits and even the 80 billion is unavailable, then there will be a real problem.

Ms. Guo added that “the White Paper Movement indeed formed a chain reaction, as everyone was discussing the same issue across different regions and even overseas. When the White Paper Movement happened, the zero-COVID policy suddenly ended, signaling the CCP’s apprehension of such a movement spreading.”

Alienating Both Masses and Elites

During “Pinnacle View,” Zheng Xuguang, a Chinese political and economic commentator, discussed the intricate dynamics of political transitions. He emphasized their unpredictable nature and the critical role played by widespread discontent. He outlined a theory suggesting that “periods of rapid growth often sow the seeds of upheaval, as heightened expectations collide with the reality of stagnation, fostering deep-seated dissatisfaction ripe for revolutionary change.”

“The root cause of these transitions cannot be solely attributed to economic or war-related reasons. Rather, economic or war-related factors must trigger actions aimed at changing the system or regime to be significant.”

Citing Vladimir Lenin’s assertion that mere suffering is insufficient to foment revolution, Mr. Zheng underscored the pivotal role of collective awareness in catalyzing societal upheaval. Attributing suffering to the ruling class, rather than individual fate or failure, acts as a potent catalyst for transformative action, laying the groundwork for systemic change.

Mr. Zheng recounted a historical precedent: the Railway Protection Movement in late Qing Dynasty Sichuan, a seminal event preceding the Xinhai Revolution that ultimately brought down the Qing Dynasty. Originating from grievances over the imposition of a 3 percent grain tax to fund the construction of the Sichuan-Han Railway, the movement swiftly gained momentum when attempts to nationalize the railway provoked ire among local landlords and the populace alike. The advocacy of the Sichuan Advisory Council, akin to a parliamentary body, lent legitimacy to the protests, elevating it to a significant political movement.

Echoing ancient adages foretelling “turmoil will first break out in Sichuan,” Mr. Zheng attributed the movement’s potency to a confluence of geographical and political factors. Sichuan’s strategic position, nestled amidst rugged terrain yet endowed with abundant resources, rendered it a potential hotbed of separatist sentiment. However, the Qing government’s policies precipitated widespread unrest, underscoring the potent cocktail of grievances fueling revolutionary fervor.

In a sobering conclusion, Zheng warned of the inevitability of significant turmoil should the current government continue to offend the populace and the elite strata.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.