In recent years, with the deteriorating economy in China, the number of “five-loss” individuals (those who have experienced investment failure, discontentment in life, disrupted relationships, mental imbalance, and psychological disorders) has been rapidly increasing, leading to retaliatory social incidents happening from time to time. On March 31, in Wuhan, a middle-aged man wielded a knife in the streets, injuring 4 people.
According to the Wuhan police report, around 10 a.m. on March 31, they received a call from the public reporting a knife attack on Qing Song Road. Law enforcement rushed to the scene, apprehended the suspect Wu (male, 44 years old), and seized a fruit knife used in the crime. Currently, all 4 victims have been hospitalized for treatment with no life-threatening injuries. The case is under further investigation.
Reported by “Jiemian News,” journalists who visited the scene learned that the incident took place along Qing Song Road in the Jiang’an District. This area is characterized by numerous residential communities and several breakfast and convenience stores lining the street.
Mr. Zhang, the owner of a store in the vicinity, informed journalists that Wu lived nearby and was a regular patron of breakfast and convenience stores in the area. There were no apparent signs of abnormal behavior from Wu in the past. Zhang mentioned, “I didn’t notice how things escalated. Suddenly, there was a commotion outside, and when I went to see, I witnessed him injuring two individuals with a fruit knife and shouting around, which seemed unusual.”
Staying at a safe distance, Zhang observed, “When Wu seemed to have lost the fruit knife, he ran into another store nearby and grabbed a paper-cutting knife.”
“Members of the public confronted him with mops. Before he could harm anyone with the paper-cutting knife, a tall man rushed forward, wrestled with him, and utilized his physical advantage to subdue him. He claimed to be from the local police station and called for others to help. Almost simultaneously, other people also rushed forward to help restrain the assailant.”
In recent years, China has witnessed several indiscriminate violent incidents of retaliatory nature, which are termed as the “Zhang Xianzhong phenomenon” on social media.
Around 12 p.m. on March 29 this year, in Da Han Ji in Fangshan District, Beijing, a car rammed into a crowd. A viral video from the scene showed multiple vendors and bystanders knocked to the ground, their conditions unknown. Witnesses claimed at least 7 to 8 people died on the spot, yet official reports are still pending, and the information has been suppressed.
One of the most severe instances of retaliatory social incidents occurred in Zhuhai. On the night of November 11, 2024, 62-year-old Fan Weiqiu drove a newly purchased off-road vehicle into a crowd at the Zhuhai Sports Center, resulting in significant casualties. It took authorities 24 hours to acknowledge the incident, which caused at least 35 fatalities and 43 severe injuries.
Behind these violent acts of retaliatory nature lies a particular concern for the “five-loss individuals.”
The prolonged economic depression in China has dimmed the prospects of the job market, leading to a continuous wave of youth unemployment. Authorities have failed to introduce any welfare support programs or viable solutions. Some individuals are compelled to undertake low-paying jobs or rely on parental pensions, becoming what is known as “scraps-wrapped children.”
Political commentator Xing Tianxing commented to Da Ji Yuan that under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), there is no impartial legal system. The CCP has long used atheism to poison the minds of the Chinese people, leading them to not respect life or believe in consequences. When faced with injustices, they retaliate in remarkably brutal ways. When a considerable number of individuals find it hard to survive and resort to retaliating against society, not only ordinary citizens but also CCP officials are put at risk.
Former Beijing lawyer and Chairman of the Canadian Alliance Minjian, Lai Jianping, also stated to Da Ji Yuan that the frequent outbreak of violence in Chinese society ultimately stems from political reasons. The totalitarian rule of the CCP has resulted in multifaceted negative consequences.