China’s economy continues to be in a major slump, with various industries showing signs of exhaustion. The struggle to make ends meet has become a real issue for many people. A hot topic circulating on the internet reflects the revival of three professions: stealing, robbing, and cheating, which highlights the struggles of the lower-class people to survive and the resulting deterioration of social security.
Recently, there has been a surge in discussions on social media platforms in mainland China about the increasing chaos in public security as the economy declines. Netizens from various regions have been reporting a rise in theft incidents, such as frequent theft of electric vehicles in residential areas and instances where groceries left unattended for a brief moment disappear. There have also been complaints from supermarket owners about skillful “zero-cost purchase” style thefts, leaving them feeling helpless.
A female netizen from Tianjin recalled an incident where she was at home with the lights on, playing on her phone, when she heard the door lock click. Upon investigating, she found the door had been forced open. “The thief saw me at home with the lights on and ran away. It was 8:20 p.m. Thieves these days are too clever. I need to remember to lock my door properly when at home from now on,” she said.
Social media has been flooded with surveillance videos showing private convenience stores being robbed and individuals using weapons to steal from homes. Many netizens expressed their horror at these reports.
Some netizens warned that in times of economic downturn and financial hardship, three “professions” are likely to see a resurgence: stealing, robbing, and cheating. With high living expenses and limited job opportunities, people are finding it increasingly difficult to survive. When faced with no other choice, resorting to theft, robbery, or deception might seem like the only way to sustain their livelihood.
One netizen responded, “This situation won’t improve because when people can’t even afford a meal, starving to death, who would care about rules and regulations? With jobs scarce in small towns and unemployed individuals flooding back to big cities, the result is an increase in vagrants and highway robbers.”
In a video shared by a blogger focusing on the perspective of ordinary citizens in China, the struggles of the general public in the economic downturn were vividly portrayed:
On July 8th, a shop owner lamented that not a single item was sold that day, resulting in zero income.
Another vendor from a roadside stall remarked on the lack of customers throughout the day, leading to no sales. “I can understand making a loss, but going into such deep losses; that’s something I can’t fathom,” they said.
A small supermarket owner shared their declining revenue figures, stating they only made ¥35 two days ago and ¥7 the day before, expressing their inability to sustain the business any longer.
The owner of a snack shop, despite using fresh ingredients and quality oil, found that the business was unsustainable. Preparations for barbeque ingredients went to waste as they had to be discarded. Frustrated, the owner questioned, “How can this business survive? I’m done playing this game; I’m done operating.”
A farmer selling vegetables and fruits highlighted the challenge of perishable goods losing value if not sold, leading to wastage. Frustrated, they exclaimed, “No one wants the vegetables anymore!” Subsequently, nearby citizens rushed to grab the discarded produce.
Additionally, several incidents of individuals resorting to extreme measures for survival have been brought to light:
Two young women in Wuhan resorted to live-streaming the sale of their blood due to financial hardships. Expressing the difficulty of their situation, they mentioned, “We have no money for food, so we are selling blood for money. Life is so difficult.” Each person had 5 tubes of blood drawn at the Wuhan No.11 Hospital.
Two men shared their experiences of selling blood, earning ¥275 the first time and ¥340 the second time. Perplexed by the discrepancy in earnings, they sought clarification from the doctor on the calculation method.
A woman begged for money on a public bus, explaining that her mother was critically ill, and they had run out of options.
Beside the Longhua Bus Station in Shenzhen, a girl sat on the ground, having gone hungry for three days without finding a job. Onlookers expressed pity for the girl, hoping that someone with a kind heart would assist her.
A young man shared his plight, unable to even produce a single coin and with no support from his parents, mentioning he would have to sleep on the streets that night.
In front of the camera, a woman questioned, “Do ordinary people have a future at all?” In a society overflowing with corruption, where common folks are disregarded even when sick, what future can one possibly hope for? She emphasized that just having enough to eat is already a luxury.
On the popular Q&A platform, Zhihu, the topic “With high unemployment and debt, how should ordinary people survive?” sparked widespread discussion.
A netizen named “Xiaoqi” pointed out that over the past decade, Chinese people had dreams of “doubling their assets through property investments” and “landing high-paying jobs in large corporations” but have now awakened to the harsh reality. They believe that low wages, poor job security, inability to save, and constant scrimping and saving may be the new norm.
A highly praised netizen, “Zhaohao who loves to browse,” suggested that during difficult times, people should communicate promptly with grassroots organizations and charitable individuals in society. The most crucial thing is to keep going. This reflects the mindset of some individuals who prioritize survival in times of hardship.
A netizen from Sichuan predicted that if the current situation persists, Chinese society may regress to the difficult years of the 1960s.
A female blogger summarized the prevalent debt crisis in China, highlighting how individuals from various sectors, be it government entities, private businesses, state-owned enterprises, developers, homebuyers, laborers, or even students, seem to be engulfed in debt with no clear resolution in sight.
These anecdotes and social media discussions collectively illuminate the profound impact of China’s economic downturn on society, livelihoods, and stability. While authorities continue to emphasize “maintaining employment stability,” the actual hardships faced by the lower class are often ignored.