Recently, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security held a press conference warning that individuals were sharing online tutorials on making guns, and they would face criminal responsibility if found violating the law. This news sparked a lot of discussion on social media, with many netizens commenting that “they are afraid,” “everyone has weapons, do they still dare to attack people?” and some even stating “what goes around, comes around”.
On November 14th, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security held a special press conference in Beijing to report on the nationwide campaign against illegal firearms and explosives in 2024.
Officials from the Public Security Bureau of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security mentioned that “many individuals online have illegally disseminated and instructed on making firearms and explosives, illegally traded firearm components, and explosive materials,” and warned that if they were involved in illegal activities, they would be held criminally responsible.
On Douyin (TikTok), this news was reposted and attracted a lot of comments from netizens questioning what authorities are afraid of and even hinting at discussions about using force against the Chinese Communist government.
Comments on social media varied from questioning the government’s fear, to discussing the potential consequences of their actions, with some expressing support for the resistance against the oppressive regime.
In Guangxi, clashes between villagers in Qinnan District and urban management officers (chengguan) and special police erupted over land disputes and forced evictions. The confrontation escalated into violent clashes, with villagers using clubs and farming tools against the authorities. Following the conflict, authorities resorted to violent suppression against the villagers who were fighting for their rights.
Videos from the scene showed villagers in a disadvantaged position being outnumbered and violently attacked by fully armed police officers. Despite some villagers being injured and lying on the ground, the police continued to use batons to beat them on their legs and waists.
According to a villager, over a dozen villagers were injured, and more than twenty villagers were taken away by authorities and their whereabouts remain unknown.
This year, in Guanshui City in Hubei province, the local government faced strong opposition from residents over the mandatory cremation policy and cemetery purchases. During the May Day holiday, thousands of people, including the elderly, in Changling Town protested, blockading roads, and demanding the government revoke the policy.
Some villagers opposing the burial policy in Guanshui had previously stated that they were preparing to arm themselves with guns if the government enforced the policy, even if it was banned.
Professor Feng Chongyi from the University of Technology Sydney, in an interview with Epoch Times earlier this year, expressed that there was no possibility of a change in China’s economy, and this year, public grievances will deepen further. He mentioned the expansion of government forces like urban management teams and rural management teams to prevent civilian resistance, which could exacerbate social conflicts across the country.
Former Inner Mongolian official Du Wen, who is in exile, had analyzed in a post in July that the Chinese Communist Party fears three major types of uprisings: large-scale social protests, collective incidents, and local turmoil.
In recent times, indiscriminate knife attacks leading to casualties have occurred in cities like Shanghai, Zhuhai, and Wuxi. The perpetrators were believed to have retaliated against unfair treatment, prompting some netizens to condemn them for hurting innocent people and calling for accountability from the authoritarian government.