On July 13th, former U.S. President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt, and within two hours, Chinese e-commerce platforms released clothing featuring Trump being attacked, which surprised many. However, some small business owners believe this incident actually highlights China’s economic decline, as businesses are scrambling to find opportunities. Nevertheless, on the 16th, the related T-shirts were already taken down from Chinese platforms.
BBC reported on Tuesday (16th) that Chinese e-commerce platforms had removed T-shirts depicting Donald Trump raising his fist after being shot.
It is not yet clear why these listings were deleted. BBC noted that China’s internet is strictly controlled, and content deemed “sensitive” is often removed.
Around 6:15 PM Eastern Time on July 13th, Trump was shot at in Pennsylvania. At 6:31 PM, the Associated Press released a iconic photo of Trump raising his fist and shouting “Fight,” taken by reporter Evan Vucci.
By around 8 PM that evening, the South China Morning Post reported that Chinese manufacturers were ready to start producing short-sleeved shirts featuring Trump’s image. At 8:40 PM, the first batch of products began selling on the popular Chinese e-commerce platform, Taobao.
Mr. Yang, a small business owner in Jinhua, Zhejiang, told the Epoch Times on the 16th that clothing stores definitely seize unexpected events to make money, which is normal as these incidents can lead to a surge in sales.
He explained that on platforms like Pinduoduo, you can input images directly and find a seller by scanning, but he believed that large-scale popularity of such products is unlikely in China.
Regarding the swift response of Chinese e-commerce platforms, Mr. Yang stated that it is crucial for them in terms of unemployment and income, as earning money has become increasingly difficult for them due to economic hardships. He emphasized that this speed comes from the pressure on their income and job opportunities, rather than the significance of global events for them.
As for the recent surge in violent incidents in China, Mr. Yang noted that the economy is relatively poor, and there is a heavy atmosphere of violence, with frequent violent incidents including stabbings, especially during economic downturns.
In the past month, there have been around 60 incidents of harming others or suicides across mainland China, spanning several provinces and cities. This underlines the rise in social aggression and the struggle faced by many.
In the realm of U.S. shootings, the Chinese internet community is highly interested. Early on the 14th Beijing time, “Trump shot” became a hot search term on Weibo.
Until noon that day, the term “Trump shot” had garnered over 300 million reads on Weibo, topping the trending list. By the evening, discussions on “Trump’s right ear pierced by a bullet” had reached 660 million reads and 153,000 discussions, maintaining the top spot on the trending list for over 12 hours.
Media figure Bai Fan from mainland China told the Epoch Times on the 16th that the incident had generated significant online attention, with the shooting case being utilized to attack the United States from official to civilian circles in China.
Regarding domestic politics, Mr. Yang highlighted the contrast in how the government portrays foreign issues negatively while avoiding discussing domestic problems, enhancing the perception of chaos abroad and stability at home.
However, talking about politics domestically is highly sensitive, with Mr. Yang mentioning instances where commenting on platforms like Xianyu resulted in account suspensions.
But as of the 16th, there was no longer relevant information related to Trump’s assassination attempt on Weibo.
As a small business owner, Mr. Yang lamented the increasing scrutiny and restrictions on online platforms in China, making it difficult for him to operate his business. He remarked on the challenges he faces, including account suspensions and restrictions on certain platforms.
He further expressed concerns about the growing censorship and control over media platforms in China.
The 20th Plenary Session of the Communist Party of China began on the 15th and is expected to last for four days. Beijing residents mentioned strict controls with notifications restricting people from entering or leaving Beijing without valid reasons, an indication of the internal and external challenges the CCP is facing.
Many analysts believe that the effects of the Plenary Session may be negative, with observations casting doubt on the outcomes.
Bai Fan also noted that the delayed convening of the 20th Plenary Session has made it a focal point of both domestic and international attention.
Regarding the tight control over the internet by the CCP, he mentioned that it serves to ensure no negative discussions about China’s economy during the Plenary Session and to divert attention from other negative news, such as the recent controversies over industrial and edible oils mixing.