On the evening of December 1, 2024, a large number of people gathered in Dadun Village, Xintang Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province to protest against the local government’s decision to collect parking fees. The angry crowd smashed the toll booth, and eventually, the authorities announced the cancellation of the fees.
Videos circulating online showed that under the cover of night, a significant number of people gathered in Dadun Village, Xintang Town, with some individuals hitting the toll booth and shattering the glass, to the cheers of the crowd. Despite a large number of police officers present for “stabilization,” no conflicts were reported between the two sides.
According to internet users, the village committee had contracted out all parking spots in the village, and the contractor set up toll booths to collect fees. Local residents believed the fees were too high, and even vehicles parked inside previously were asked to pay additional charges, leading to the protest. Angry residents gathered at the entrance of the local police station, where one man destroyed the toll booth.
Later on, officials from Xintang Town came out and announced the cancellation of the parking fees. Any fees already paid would be refunded, after which the crowd dispersed.
This incident was not reported by mainland Chinese media, and there was no related news on Weibo.
Footage of the incident spread overseas, sparking discussions among internet users:
“In recent years, almost all urban villages have installed toll systems around the entire village. You have to pay when you leave the village, and there are also monthly and yearly subscriptions.”
“The Communist Party is running out of money, so they are starting to squeeze every bit they can from the public. They can tax everything, including parking lots, which are a daily source of income. The Communist Party will not pass up this opportunity.”
“In the end, we have to fight for our rights with dignity. It doesn’t come from kneeling and begging.”
The three-year-long “Cut to Zero and Tighten Control” policy has exacerbated financial difficulties in local Chinese Communist Party (CCP) administrations, especially with the decline in land revenue and high local debts. Since last year, China’s economy has continued to decline, leading to widespread criticism of issues such as arbitrary fees and fines.
In October of this year, Chinese scholar Liu Chengliang revealed that in 2022, the CCP’s nationwide income from fines and confiscations reached 428.3 billion Chinese Yuan, a 10-year high.
Following the CCP’s Third Plenum in July of this year, various fiscal measures have been gradually introduced. These include a reduction of local consumption taxes and the integration of local surcharges for additional revenue. Officials have confirmed that the management authority for major non-tax revenue collected by local governments, including highway tolls, will be appropriately decentralized.
According to official information, non-tax revenues refer to governmental funds received by various levels of government, institutions, public entities, social organizations, and institutions exercising administrative functions, excluding tax revenues. Non-tax revenues include government fund income, special revenue, fees for administrative services, fines and confiscation revenue, state-owned capital operation income, compensated use of state-owned resources (assets) income, donation income, government housing fund income, and other income.
Chinese-American economist Li Hengqing previously told The Epoch Times that the CCP’s central leadership’s move to decentralize the management of non-tax revenues is a call for self-preservation. The central authority is washing its hands of the matter, and anyone can use whatever means necessary to grab money. In this situation, they can only exploit the common people, as the people have no power or ability to resist, allowing themselves to be ruthlessly exploited.