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Today’s focus: Xi Jinping’s guidance on the massive collapse of Guangdong Expressway turns out to be another man-made disaster; Hail hits Guangdong and Guangxi, with hailstones half the size of a person? Action! The Chinese Communist Party launches the “New Five Antis” and “Mass Reporting”; Starting from July, phones and computers will be checked upon entry into China.
The “May Day” holiday in China is the busiest time for transportation and passenger services in China, and on the first day known as the “Golden Week” by authorities, a large-scale collapse occurred on a highway in Guangdong, resulting in a serious accident with significant casualties.
In the early hours of May 1st, a large-scale collapse occurred on the Meidagao Expressway in Guangdong, about two kilometers from the exit of the Chaoyang section towards Fujian. The collapse affected both sides of the highway, with two lanes of the road surface completely collapsing. It was around 2 a.m., dark and causing at least 23 vehicles to fall off, leading to explosions and fires.
As of the afternoon of May 2nd, authorities stated that the accident had resulted in 48 deaths and 30 people are still being treated in hospitals. Let’s take a look at the footage captured at the scene of the accident.
After daybreak, the grim scene of the accident site became apparent, resembling more like a scene after a mudslide.
Local residents mentioned that due to the “May Day” holiday, many people were traveling back from Guangdong, while others were traveling to avoid peak traffic hours, choosing to depart in the early hours. Local authorities also revealed that most of the victims were from Fujian, with some being local residents.
One Mr. Chen stated that his friend’s group of 9 people in 2 vehicles passed through that section on the night of the accident, with one vehicle carrying a family of 5, all of whom have tragically perished.
So, what caused such a collapse? According to reports, the section of the Meidagao Expressway where the accident occurred had been in operation for less than 10 years and apparently couldn’t withstand the recent heavy rains. An engineer specializing in road structure design pointed out that the accident-prone section is located near a mountain slope, but the roadbed below the road surface only had simple slope protection measures without proper supportive structures like gravity retaining walls or anti-slip piles. This raised concerns about construction quality. The engineer also highlighted issues with monitoring and early warning systems, emphasizing that such landslides generally show clear signs in advance, allowing for prediction in potential landslide areas.
Furthermore, another reason pointed out was the excessive vegetation along the roadside, which when saturated with water could lead to the danger of slope collapse. This type of road section should have been reconstructed with low bushes and grass.
Public records show that the total investment in the Meidagao Expressway amounted to approximately 5.637 billion RMB, with the construction period witnessing multiple incidents of roof collapse, collapses, and seepage. The Meidagao Expressway is operated and managed by Guangdong Da Chao Expressway Co., Ltd., a state-owned enterprise under the Guangdong Provincial Transportation Group, established in 2016 with a registered capital of 30 million, and the legal representative is Deng Bin.
On May 2nd, Xi Jinping issued directives on this major accident, emphasizing particularly to ensure “social stability.”
Some have already predicted that despite such a major incident, that road segment will soon be repaired, and authorities will likely shift the blame to the weather, attributing the collapse to geological changes caused by heavy rain. As long as the official background of those responsible for the road’s construction is strong enough, then the construction quality will undoubtedly be deemed to meet standards. Once the incident fades from the top searches, attention will swiftly move on to other “man-made disasters,” ensuring “social stability,” allowing everyone to continue their peaceful lives, welcoming the next so-called “natural disaster.”
Just before the start of the May Day holiday, Guangdong’s Zengcheng, Zhuhai, and many areas in Guangxi experienced rare large-scale hail attacks, with some hailstones even larger than an adult’s fist. Residents expressed shock, questioning if the recent weather anomalies were due to “offending the Dragon King or the Yama.”
On April 27th, Zengcheng in Guangdong was hit by hail of terrifying proportions, with reports of hailstones as large as watermelons and footballs. Many people were injured, and property losses were severe. Experience the frightening hail in Zengcheng.
Zengcheng not only faced hailstorms but also witnessed tornadoes sweeping through the city, accompanied by huge continuous lightning strikes, creating a dramatic scene. The individuals filming the event were so scared that they quickly sought refuge indoors.
However, the most jaw-dropping hailstorms occurred on the same day, April 27th, in Guizhou, where extra-large hailstones fell, with one measuring over half the height of a person, smashing into vegetable plots under warm greenhouses, possibly setting a new record for the largest hailstones in history.
Just a few hours before the collapse of the Meidagao Expressway in Guangdong, on the night of April 30th, Zhuhai in Guangdong was struck by torrential rain, hail, and strong winds. Particularly, hail poured down, with some hailstones as large as fists, leaving long-term residents of Zhuhai astonished at witnessing such unusual weather for the first time.
On April 30th, the Central Political Bureau of the CCP held a meeting and decided to convene the 20th Third Plenary Session in Beijing this July. Originally scheduled to take place last autumn, public opinion believes this delay is a result of internal power struggles within the CCP. Ever since the 20th National Congress, Defense Minister Li Shangfu and Foreign Minister Qin Gang have been dismissed; at least a dozen senior military commanders have been relieved of their duties. The Chinese economy is facing challenges, with the real estate market on the brink of collapse, local governments burdened with debt, and unemployment rates soaring. On the diplomatic front, relations with the United States and other Western countries have reached a point of confrontation.
At this juncture, many failed to notice: the CCP has quietly announced that it will embark on two major actions, sparking another round of turmoil in China.
On April 29th, Minister of State Security Chen Yixin hinted in an article on the front page of the party’s publication, “Study Times,” that the CCP aims to initiate new “Five Antis,” declaring it will “counter subversion, counter hegemony, counter separatism, counter terrorism, counter espionage.” Can you smell the blood in the air already?! Most Chinese people no longer recall the historical “Three Antis and Five Antis” campaigns. Let’s provide a straightforward explanation.
Between 1951 and 1952, the CCP conducted a “Three Antis and Five Antis” movement, with the “Five Antis” targeting bribery, tax evasion, cutting corners in production, fraudulent use of national assets, and embezzlement of economic intelligence. What were the outcomes?
In January 1954, former Deputy Minister of Public Security Xu Zirong reported that since the start of the campaign, over 2.62 million people across the country had been arrested. Among them, “more than 712,000 counter-revolutionaries were killed, over 129,000 were sentenced, and more than 1.2 million were subjected to constraints.” In less than two years, 710,000 people were killed, averaging at around 1,000 deaths per day, surpassing the daily death toll during the Russo-Ukrainian War.
Listening to these numbers, now consider the newly proposed “Five Antis” by the current Minister of State Security, Chen Yixin, combined with Xi’s initiatives to firmly eradicate any internal threats, doesn’t it exude an atmosphere of suppression and elimination?
Presently, the CCP is not only monitoring regular citizens but also scrutinizing party officials. Recently, the Ministry of Public Security established a Special Guard Bureau, replacing the former Central Security Bureau. This move aims to closely surveil Communist officials above deputy ministerial level and strictly control their actions, even monitoring their dining outings, private conversations, and whom they meet. With Chen Yixin at the helm of the Ministry of State Security, there is an increased intervention in diplomatic and financial sectors, along with a widespread crackdown on espionage, specifically targeting foreign investment enterprises in China, painting a scene of fear and caution.
Commentator Cai Shenkun believes that officials promoted by Xi Jinping have been continuously purged since last year, and the promulgation of the new “Five Antis” by Chen Yixin is more of a threat to CCP officials and dissidents, prohibiting any dissent or criticism. Furthermore, the internal competition between CCP public security and state security organizations is likened to the Qing Dynasty’s East Factory, West Factory, and the Jinyiwei, leading to hardships for officials and common people alike.
The CCP recently introduced various surveillance measures for party members during “working hours.” During the CCP’s Two Sessions, Macau’s Legislative Council Chairman Ho Iat Seng admitted that surveillance not only exists internally in China but also in Macau. As soon as an official enters a casino, they are immediately monitored, and their unit leaders are notified! Some may think this only concerns officials and not ordinary citizens. However, if you think the CCP overlooks non-officials, then you may not understand the CCP well; the CCP excels in “using the masses to fight against the masses,” making it impossible for ordinary people to remain uninvolved.
On April 25th, the CCP Cyberspace Administration held a national network reporting work conference, emphasizing the need to establish a widespread reporting system that is both uniform and effective. As long as you are in China, nobody can escape. But wait, on April 26th, the Ministry of State Security announced two regulations named the “State Security Agency’s Administrative Enforcement Procedures” and the “State Security Agency’s Criminal Case Handling Procedures,” marking the first time the Ministry unveiled enforcement and case handling procedures, set to take effect from July 1st this year.
Sounds like a way to regulate law enforcement procedures, right? Don’t jump to conclusions; the CCP’s techniques are always deceptive on the surface but insidious within. What are the specific details in these regulations? It stipulates that “local law enforcement officers will be granted the right to inspect electronic devices, meaning visitors arriving in China may have their smartphones or computers checked by local law enforcement.”
In essence, starting from this July, anyone entering China may potentially undergo inspections of their personal smartphones and computers. Coupled with the CCP Cyberspace Administration’s “mass reporting” campaign and the new enforcement of the “Anti-Espionage Law,” it is entirely feasible to subject anyone visiting China to experience the “hospitality” and the irreversible security measures.
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