On July 5th, in Huarong County, Hunan Province, a critical situation occurred at the embankment of Dongting Lake in Tuanzhouyuan, leading to the failure of improper emergency sealing methods and ultimately causing the embankment to breach, resulting in the submergence of Tuanzhouyuan. Following this incident, the local government of Huarong County issued a donation announcement to the public, which was met with ridicule from netizens. Even donations from businesses faced resistance from the online community. Analysis shows that people in mainland China have lost trust in the government, believing that official rescue efforts are inadequate, and donations do not reach the victims.
By the afternoon of July 5th, water seepage was detected at the embankment of Dongting Lake in Huarong County, Hunan Province. The local authorities attempted to use a method called “using trucks as storage bins,” deploying 8 large trucks with banners reading “using trucks as storage bins” to fill the gap with sand. However, the sand quickly washed away, leaving the trucks askew and unable to stop the river water, leading to the embankment breach and attracting attention from the public.
Up to around noon on July 6th, reports indicated that the breach in the embankment was approximately 220 meters wide, with an average water depth of about 5 meters in the flooded area, covering 47.64 square kilometers, accounting for 92.5% of the total area of Tuanzhouyuan. Thousands of residents in Tuanzhouyuan were urgently evacuated, with properties and homes destroyed, and losses inestimable.
In the announcement issued by the Huarong County government on the afternoon of July 6th, the public was asked to donate to aid in the relief efforts, including individuals, enterprises, and other charitable organizations, with donations to be accepted by the Huarong County Charity Association.
However, netizens strongly criticized the official “Notice on Accepting Donations” on various social media platforms, sparking widespread mockery. Some attentive netizens collected feedback from online users and reposted it on overseas social media platforms.
It was observed that even the notice reposted in private capacity faced overwhelming criticism from netizens. Beijing resident Lu, with two million followers on Weibo, reposted the “Notice on Accepting Donations in Huarong County, Hunan,” prompting comments such as, “Let those international students donate since they receive high scholarships.” Netizens from various regions expressed skepticism, with one saying, “The country has abundant resources, they shouldn’t lack funding,” and another cautioning against online money transfers due to the risk of online scams.
Notably, residents of Pingjiang County in Yueyang City, which suffered flooding a week prior to Huarong County, openly urged against donations online, highlighting the challenges in ensuring that aid reaches the affected individuals. Similar sentiments were shared by netizens criticizing corporate donations and expressing resistance.
When “Bawang Tea Princess” donated five million to Huarong County, instead of praise, comments were predominantly negative, with many vowing not to support the brand in the future. Netizens questioned the allocation of funds, suggesting that resources would be better utilized in salary increments for employees, as post-disaster reconstruction should be a government responsibility.
A mainland Chinese lawyer conveyed to the Epoch Times that recent years of economic decline exacerbated by the pandemic have left many struggling, with unemployment and financial difficulties becoming widespread. The lack of genuine care from corrupt officials has fostered a deep-seated distrust towards the government, intensifying aversion to donation requests in such times.
In response to the corporate boycott of donations, the lawyer noted that the public’s disillusionment stems from a realization of the government’s insincerity, prompting them to voice their discontent through resistance. This behavior reflects a societal awakening to the flaws of the inhumane communist regime.
Lai Rongwei, CEO of the Taiwan Inspiration Association (TIA), echoed similar sentiments, stating that the prevalent distrust among netizens towards the government and ruling party reflects a broader lack of faith in institutions and the societal fabric. Concerns were raised about the potential misappropriation of designated donations and the inefficiencies in disaster relief efforts, raising questions about the authorities’ ability to effectively distribute aid promptly.
In the current climate, where economic uncertainties and widespread corruption prevail, people across China are feeling increasingly apprehensive about the country’s future prospects. The skepticism and cynicism displayed by Chinese netizens reflect a deep-rooted discontent with the government and its practices, highlighting growing reservations about supporting initiatives that could be exploited by the ruling regime.