Hello everyone, welcome to “News Perspectives”, I am Li Xin.
Today’s focus: Shanghai East Sea Fleet mobilizes troops to confiscate welfare housing of retired military personnel; National veterans to gather in Beijing to protest the newly implemented “Retired Military Personnel Placement Regulations”; Over 10,000 university students in mainland China infected with HIV in 4 years.
The current Chinese society seems to be in turmoil with frequent occurrences of collective events indicating that a major transformation is brewing.
On December 3rd, a conflict between police and civilians occurred in Zhanjiang, Guangdong. Villagers in Zhanjiang’s Chengwu Village protested collectively against the government’s complete ban on offshore aquaculture and called on all villagers and young adults working outside to return home to protect their homeland. Authorities deployed a large number of fully armed armed police and special forces to violently suppress the villagers’ demonstration. However, the villagers refused to yield, fiercely resisted, and sprayed water, splashed water on the armed police and special forces.
It’s uncertain when a modern version of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang will emerge.
Recently, the Shanghai base of the East Sea Fleet Communist Party forced retired military personnel to vacate their welfare housing, triggering collective protests from retired military personnel and their families. It is rumored that the authorities eventually deployed the military to clear these welfare houses.
Netizens revealed that on November 20th in Shanghai, the navy mobilized troops and a large number of soldiers to clear the welfare housing of retired veterans. Videos circulated on the internet showed several military vehicles parked on the streets at night, with many soldiers in camouflage clothing, holding shields to block and push some elderly people, and then moving household items onto military vehicles.
Prior to this, retired military personnel at the Shanghai base of the East Sea Fleet received a “Housing Recognition Notice” issued on October 27th, requiring them to vacate the apartment housing by November 20th or face “measures to reclaim the housing”.
A video from October 31st showed individuals in black and camouflage clothing pouring glue into the locks of barracks residents’ doors, sealing them with tape and taking photos.
Insiders stated that the welfare housing previously allocated by the original unit logistics department to retired military personnel before their retirement is now being deemed as unit apartments, requiring them to vacate by a deadline. In the forceful eviction operation by the unit, harsh measures such as cutting off water and electricity, welding shut entry doors, were employed. Over a thousand affected retired officers from the stationed Shanghai unit, some of high rank, were impacted.
In early November, families of retired officers and retired military personnel staged protests in the No. 1 compound of the navy in Shanghai. Many people gathered in front of the navy’s first guesthouse, each holding up a piece of paper reading “Homeless with Glory”.
Videos showed a large number of police and security personnel rushing to the protest site, arresting and assaulting individuals. Elderly people in their seventies and eighties were pushed to the ground. Several conflicts erupted on the scene, with intense emotions, where some were grabbed by the neck and cursed as “executioners.”
Insiders mentioned that before retirement, the units had allocated housing to these veterans, some of whom had been living there for 20 years. However, now they are being forced out, with reasons like “family members occupying” cited. Cases of forcibly reclaiming housing from retired veterans have been reported in Shanghai, Qingdao, Beijing, and other locations. Those unwilling to leave have the option to stay but must pay a monthly rent of 5,000 yuan.
It’s known that the Chinese military is corrupt and lawless, with no one holding it accountable locally. Now, all units nationwide are reclaiming housing from former retired officers as military funds are insufficient, leading to actions against the families of retired officers and the retirees themselves. This treatment even extends to the military personnel, indicating a desperate situation.
Netizens also commented:
“Have even the sons and daughters of the people fallen victim?”
“Imperial Guards? Eastern Depot?”
“Using new recruits to deal with old veterans, this cycle leaves no one innocent.”
There were reports on Platform X that the Chinese Veterans Association is organizing a protest in Beijing before New Year’s Day under the operation name “Spring Noodle Feast,” calling on veterans nationwide to take action and spread the word.
A special statement reads:
“Our appeal is a collective cry from retired officers nationwide who receive monthly retirement benefits, a plea of blood and tears from thousands of officers and their families, crucial for military morale, national security, social stability, and the credibility and cohesion of the Party and the state. This is a significant issue that must not be ignored or neglected.”
The document states:
“The hasty implementation of the monthly officer placement is a systemic issue that arises in the design of national and military policies. The adjustment and correction of authority lie in the Party Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, not in the authority of provincial, municipal, district, county party committees, local governments, or certain levels of departmental authority. Your unit is urged to take this appeal seriously and resolve it promptly.”
The mentioned monthly officer placement refers to the implementation of the “Retired Military Personnel Placement Regulations” by the State Council and the Central Military Commission, effective from September 1, 2024. The Regulations stipulate the placement of retired military personnel and supersede the previous “Retired Soldier Placement Regulations,” incorporating all ranks into a unified placement system. This implementation has sparked outrage and discontent.
If given the choice, retired military personnel would prefer self-employment for placement. However, under the new Regulations, retired officers and non-commissioned officers no longer have the option of self-employment for placement but instead receive monthly retirement benefits.
Under the new criteria, monthly retirement benefits are mainly allocated to officers below the rank of Colonel who have served for at least 16 years, or to non-commissioned officers who have served for at least 16 years and been in service for 18 years, among other similar conditions. While the conditions match those for previous self-employment, the crucial difference lies in the fact that the previous retirement benefits were essentially provided for life, with a set adjustment mechanism, removing concerns about retirement benefits.
Individuals under the monthly retirement benefits scheme can retain no more than 25% of their retirement benefits at the highest rate upon reaching the statutory retirement age, with the remainder recalculated post-retirement. The uncertain payout after retirement has led to discontent among the veteran community.
The statement of the Chinese Veterans Association includes a reference to the National Petition Bureau for specific proceedings for retired veterans to follow and addresses the primary targets of their demands with contact information.
It lists the office hours, locations, and contact numbers of the Offices of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council, the Central Military Commission, the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The call to participate includes adding a “+1” after one’s name for those willing to contribute personnel and a “+2” for those able to provide assistance. The list has already garnered 50 participants.
Netizens expressed:
“It’s been accumulated for so long, retired military personnel have been marginalized for years, even the police can trample on them, with some openly saying, ‘We will fix you people.'”
“The Chinese Communist Party fears nothing more than military action, including retired veterans. The military has organizing capability, strong discipline, professional training, and battlefield experience, making military control and influence its consistent policy.”
While different places under Xi Jinping’s rule struggle to pay salaries, the military has seen consecutive salary increases. The military has been offered high pay and benefits, including medical care for soldiers’ families, as a way of appeasement. If they unite and act, it would truly be a nightmare for the CCP.
In recent years, there have been annual episodes of veterans fighting for their rights in Beijing. In 2017, over 20,000 retired veterans poured into Beijing overnight, surrounding the Hotel PLA and the discipline inspection commission in a large-scale rights protection event that shook the authorities.
Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, about 60 million retired and demobilized military personnel have transitioned. Major incidents involving veterans’ rights protection usually coincide with military reforms. These include the mass demobilization in 1985 and the military downsizing in 1992. The most significant impact was seen after Xi Jinping initiated military reforms, leading to a loss of trust from the military towards the Xi regime, resulting in growing disillusionment. The 1985 mass demobilization of the CCP led to the downsizing of 1.5 million troops, with many officers and volunteers transitioning but not being provided jobs. Some joined local businesses, which eventually closed down, leaving them unemployed. While their comrades who transitioned to government positions had stable jobs, they were left without sustenance. The veterans are demanding a reinstatement of their administrative positions, particularly officers, a matter of utmost importance. Following the downsizing in 1992, there was a minor adjustment, but it was after 1993 that protests by older veterans increased. The most significant incident was in February 2017 when about 20,000 veterans organized tightly and marched to Beijing overnight. Former PLA Navy Colonel explained that these veterans arrived at nearby military guesthouses around Beijing in advance and were then brought into Beijing by car with military support.
The topic of over 12,000 Chinese university students being infected with HIV in four years has garnered attention online and trended in searches. In mainland China, the number of HIV infections among university students remains high, with a trend towards infections among younger age groups, including cases among middle school and high school students.
December 1st marks World AIDS Day. According to the “China Youth Reproductive Health Blue Book” released by the CCP, a total of 3,010 cases of young students aged 15–24 were reported in 2023 in mainland China. The male-to-female ratio among young student cases in 2023 was 34.4:1, with 84.7% attributed to same-sex transmission and 14.0% to heterosexual transmission. Over the years, cases among young students aged 15–17 have exceeded 400.
Related data indicates that from 2020 to 2023, the reported number of young student cases was: 2,977, 3,677, 2,733, and 3,010, totaling 12,397 reported cases of HIV infection over the four-year period. The male-to-female ratio was 33.9:1, with an average age of 19.9 years.
These reports have sparked discussions among netizens:
“The university students are the future of the nation, and these statistics are worrying.”
“University students should enhance their self-protection awareness, avoid risky behaviors, and be responsible for themselves and others.”
Some netizens suggested that reinstating pre-marriage checkups is necessary given that some individuals may not be aware of their HIV infection. This step would prevent further severe consequences if they were to marry or engage in sexual activities with others unaware of the infection.
A report from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that from 2010 to 2019, a total of 141,557 cases of HIV infection were reported among individuals aged 15–24, including students. About 80% of newly diagnosed cases of HIV among individuals aged 15–24 in China are school dropouts. The majority of HIV-infected youth in China are from outside schools, with many possibly contracting the virus before dropping out. After testing positive for HIV, some students choose to drop out or transfer schools.
According to the Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a trend towards lower age groups being infected with HIV, with cases appearing among middle and high school students. The youngest case reported was below the age of 13. In recent years, cities with concentrated universities such as Shanghai, Changsha, Xi’an, Nanchang, Nanjing, and Beijing have seen approximately 60% of HIV-infected students engaged in this behavior through social networking platforms.
Epidemiological surveys indicate that among key populations, this year’s newly reported student cases involve 86.8% forming friendships through social networking platforms, 71.7% engaging in sexual activities with individuals in society, 66.0% involved in multiple partner activities, and 11.3% using new drugs. Meeting friends through social networking platforms, having multiple partners, and engaging in unprotected “male-to-male sexual activity” are the primary risk factors for HIV infection and transmission.
The chaotic state of Chinese society is a concern from birth, as it is hoped that everyone can care for themselves and take good care of their health.
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