Recently, the issue of falsification in poverty alleviation efforts by the Chinese Communist Party has come under scrutiny once again. In a video released by a community in Suqian City, Jiangsu Province, it was shown that an elderly person living in a luxurious villa with high-end liquor such as Wuliangye on display was visited under the guise of “visiting elderly in need.” This incident sparked controversy, leading to officials later claiming that the elderly person was not actually in need.
In the video posted by a Douyin user named “Da Hexi Xiaolaba” from the Dahexi community in Sangxu Town, Shuyang County, Suqian City, Jiangsu Province, it shows two women dressed as “volunteers” pushing open the heavy doors of a luxurious villa. Upon entering, the camera captures a spacious and luxurious living room with a large fish tank featuring a flowing water feature, a spacious dining room, and multiple decorative cabinets displaying high-end liquor such as Wuliangye.
Internet users mocked the situation, with comments like “The door alone costs at least 5000 yuan,” and “Is this what they call hardship? Jiangsu is really wealthy!” Some speculated, “It’s probably some official’s hometown, and these people are just putting on a show.” Others questioned, “Are they taking the audience for fools?” and “Maybe some editor couldn’t stand it and intentionally exposed this high-level deception.”
According to a report by Guizhou Radio and Television Public Channel “People’s Concern” on April 29, on April 24, community workers from Dahexi community in Sangxu Town, Suqian City, visited elderly individuals with health issues and family difficulties, bringing gifts such as eggs for comfort. However, the video of the visit showed the elderly person living in a detached villa with Wuliangye displayed in the living room, prompting questioning from netizens. On April 29, community workers responded that the activity was mainly targeted at elderly individuals aged 80 and above, regardless of their hardships, and that they would come up with more appropriate solutions in the future.
On the morning of April 30, as reported by the Yangzi Evening News, local authorities stated that upon investigation, the content circulated on the internet was not true. Official sources claimed that the elderly person in the video, Yuan Youtang, 81 years old, was visited by the community for consolation after being hospitalized during his birthday period. It was clarified that he was not a recipient of civil affairs assistance (part of the disadvantaged group) as mentioned in the media reports.