On the eve of the People’s Republic of China’s military parade on September 3rd, several taxi drivers in Beijing revealed that their taxi companies have issued a “gag order” that strictly prohibits drivers from discussing any political topics with passengers, especially those related to national leaders and international affairs. Praise for national leaders is also off-limits.
Taxi drivers in Tianjin and other areas also indicated that similar regulations have been widely implemented. Responding drivers stated that their companies explicitly require them to only exchange information related to the destination of the trip with passengers, such as route, traffic conditions, and weather, while strictly prohibiting any other discussions. They are also instructed to “report suspicious passengers.”
As the countdown to the military parade on September 3rd in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square begins, the streets along Chang’an Avenue leading to Tiananmen Square are heavily guarded by military and police personnel, and plainclothes personnel are stationed every few steps. All passersby near Tiananmen Square are required to show identification, undergo card scanning, and undergo personal checks.
On August 13th, a visitor from another province, Ms. Wang, informed Epoch Times in Beijing that visitors in the city are now being expelled: “We can’t even enter the city now. It’s very difficult for even ordinary people to enter places like Zhongnanhai and Tiananmen Square. A visitor from Jilin was caught at the urban-rural junction and was sent back to their hometown and detained.”
Taxi driver Lao Li (pseudonym) in Beijing has over twenty years of driving experience. He recalled that over a decade ago, passengers and drivers could easily chat, joke, and discuss national affairs while driving. However, about ten years ago, companies started installing monitoring devices inside the vehicles. He told Epoch Times: “You are monitored by cameras and recording devices in the car. Recently, the company greeted us again, warning us not to discuss political topics. Not long ago, when I was talking with a passenger about national leaders, company management warned me, saying that I wasn’t focusing on driving properly and was chatting aimlessly. The management even reminded me, ‘Don’t you know there are cameras and recording devices in the car?'”
Lao Li said that recently, the company not only prohibits drivers from chatting with customers but also reminds each driver to be vigilant for suspicious individuals and that there are rewards for reporting spies. He said, “There are cameras in the taxis, as well as concealed microphones. If you notice someone acting suspiciously, press the alarm button immediately. You don’t know where this button is located. When the company receives an alert, they observe passengers through the cameras. The company also mentioned that catching a real spy will be rewarded. But here’s the problem, if you don’t allow me to talk with passengers, how do I know if they’re suspicious?”
Shen Zhi (pseudonym), a retired government official who recently returned to Jinan from Beijing, said that in the past, when he took taxis in Beijing, drivers always had a lot to say: “I remember during the era of Hu Jintao, from the Capital Airport to Changping Tongtianyuan, as soon as we left the airport, the driver would chat with me about politics, such as who is up and who is down in the central leadership, discussing China-US relations, and an hour on the road would quickly pass. Back then, every Beijing taxi driver was a ‘talkative gentleman,’ but in the era of Xi Jinping, the drivers are silent throughout the journey.”
Shen Zhi lamented that this change in taxi drivers not only makes the ride experience dull but also contributes to a more stifling social atmosphere. He also disclosed that sometimes taxi drivers would remind him: “There are cameras and recording in the car, so watch what you say. When I was on a business trip to Tianjin, taxi drivers rarely conversed with passengers.”
Liu, a lawyer surnamed Liu who frequently goes to Beijing for business from Chengdu, mentioned that in recent years when taking taxis in Beijing, he noticed that drivers no longer introduce Beijing landmarks as they used to: “Previously, they would introduce Beijing’s tall buildings, tell you that passing by Zhongnanhai is where leaders stay, not open to outsiders, and mention where to find traditional Beijing breakfast. Now, taxi drivers suddenly became silent, no longer analyzing international situations. From the moment I get in until I get off, the driver doesn’t say a word. The same goes for Chongqing and Tianjin, where besides informing you of the route, drivers hardly say a word.”
Currently, Beijing is under high security measures in preparation for the military parade on September 3rd. Temporary recruits have reportedly been deployed in various areas of Beijing to guard flyovers, utility poles, and key roads to prevent the appearance of “reactionary slogans.” Vigilance has been heightened at numerous intersections in the city, some bus routes have been temporarily altered to ensure safety, and internet censorship efforts have noticeably intensified.