In China, floods have ravaged many areas, submerging villages and causing a rising death toll. The Ministry of Public Security of the Chinese Communist Party recently issued a “Call for Action,” urging internet users not to spread unverified information and to promptly report so-called “fake news” related to the floods. Several individuals have been arrested under the pretext of spreading online rumors.
On August 2nd, the “Cyber Security Bureau” under the Ministry of Public Security of the Chinese Communist Party released a call for action, stating that recent heavy rainfall in many parts of China has resulted in floods and geological disasters, creating a severe and complex flood control and disaster relief situation.
The call for action requires internet users to resist so-called internet rumors related to the floods and all kinds of “illegal and harmful information.” Those who intentionally fabricate and spread false flood control and disaster relief information to disrupt social order will be severely punished.
The call for action also urges internet users to obtain flood control and disaster relief information through “official authoritative platforms” and legitimate news media, not to forward or comment on internet information that has not been verified by official sources, not to easily believe messages contradicting official releases, and to promptly report so-called “fake news.”
On July 31st, the Cyber Security Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security of the Chinese Communist Party also announced that they have handled four cases of so-called “flood control-related online rumors,” claiming that four internet users who released videos of the floods were fined administratively for fabricating information.
Additionally, the Cyber Security Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security threatened internet users, stating that the internet is not a lawless land and exposing a few typical cases to deter cybercrime activities, making those spreading rumors pay a heavy price.
Overseas internet users on x platform have criticized these actions:
“(The CCP) official media are the biggest rumor mongers, monopolizing information, not allowing reports, casually fabricating false data to deceive the public.”
“Information opacity makes black and white indistinguishable, causing skepticism and disbelief in any event.”
“The intention is clearly to intimidate internet influencers who report real disaster situations.”
“The government can imprison anyone in the name of spreading rumors, but they cannot eliminate rumors because the biggest rumors come from authoritarian tyranny.”
“Preventing people from speaking out is worse than preventing floods. Even with strong suppression, there will inevitably be a breach one day.”
Since July 23rd, rare heavy rains have hit northern China, with unexpected reservoir discharge incidents leading to floods in Shandong, Shanxi, Hebei, and Beijing, among other places. Hebei and Beijing have been particularly hard hit by the floods.
Since July 27th, torrents of water have inundated areas in the outskirts of Beijing such as Miyun, Yanqing, Huairou, and in Xinglong County, Hebei, creating waves several meters high, submerging many villages and disconnecting numerous villagers from the outside world.
At this critical moment of life-threatening situations, posts seeking help posted by disaster victims on mainland social media have been deleted or suppressed through various means.
On July 26th, a female netizen from Miyun in Beijing posted a video saying, “The flood has entered the house at night,” receiving 118,000 likes before her account was suspended.
On July 28th, a channel on the mainland’s online platform “Bilibili” with nearly 470,000 followers uploaded a video showing the dire situation in Miyun, yet it was reported as AI-generated and subsequently taken down. Users questioned the biased complaints, suspecting the shadow of the police force behind it.
Ms. Wang, a mainland media professional, analyzed to Epoch Times that the CCP is concealing the disaster scope and the actual death toll, and nobody knows the true extent. More critically, the CCP has not done much in terms of rescue efforts; it heavily relies on people saving themselves. If you manage to escape, it’s alright, but if not, you’re trapped in the flood. Many videos online regarding the disaster are said by authorities to be AI-generated; she stated, “I can only say that the current government lacks humanity.”
The CCP has consistently hidden the actual disaster situation and casualty numbers, and the outside world can only obtain genuine information through reports from local residents or self-media platforms.
However, the Cyberspace Administration of China recently issued a notice announcing a two-month nationwide “Special Campaign to Clean Up ‘Self-media'” starting from July 24th, including prohibiting the dissemination of information using terms like “internet rumors,” “netizen opinions,” and “internet sources.”
Upon this announcement, public opinion stirred, but dissatisfied comments from internet users were quickly deleted.
Even until the evening of July 28th, the Beijing authorities had not disclosed the number of casualties.
Around 9:50 pm that evening, the CCP’s official media stated that Party leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang issued instructions, acknowledging “significant casualties” due to floods in Huabei and Miyun District, Beijing. Subsequently, Beijing disclosed that the floods had caused 30 deaths.
On July 31st, the Beijing Municipal Government held a press conference, claiming that as of noon that day, 44 people in the city had died due to the disaster, with 9 others missing or unable to be reached. Among them, in Taishitun Town, Miyun District, 31 people from a nursing home perished.
However, on July 29th, villagers from Sunhugou Village, Liulimiao Town, Huairou District, Beijing mentioned that four people from their village were washed away, with over 300 individuals remaining unaccounted for.
Xinglong County, Chengde City, Hebei Province, has become one of the severely affected areas. Local reports stated that the floods had resulted in 8 deaths and 18 missing persons. However, local villagers revealed that masses of people were swept away by the floods, depicting a devastating situation.