Executions in Response to Deadly Attacks

In a significant and alarming development, China has executed two men implicated in deadly attacks that resulted in the loss of dozens of lives in November. This tragic incident has sparked widespread concerns over an alarming trend labeled “revenge on society crimes.”

Details of the Offenses

The first of the executed, Fan Weiqu, aged 62, executed a horrific act by driving his car into a crowd outside a sports stadium in Zhuhai, located in southern China. This catastrophic incident claimed the lives of at least 35 individuals, marking it as the deadliest attack in over a decade in the country. Authorities revealed that Fan's actions were motivated by his frustration over a divorce settlement.

In a separate case from the same month, the second individual, 21-year-old Xu Jiajin, committed an unforgivable crime at his vocational school in Wuxi, eastern China. Armed with a knife, Xu killed eight people and injured 17 others after facing academic setbacks and expressing dissatisfaction with both his internship pay and failure to graduate. He was also executed on the same day as Fan.

Government Response

Chinese President Xi Jinping has responded urgently to this troubling trend, directing local governments to institute preventative measures against such violent acts, which are increasingly recognized under the umbrella of “revenge on society crimes.” The sentence for both men was handed down by the intermediate people’s courts in Zhuhai and Wuxi in December and subsequently ratified by the Supreme People’s Court, state media confirmed.

Context of Rising Violence

While violent crime rates in China remain lower than in many Western nations, there has been a noticeable increase in such incidents, including stabbings and vehicular assaults. These attacks challenge the Communist Party’s long-standing reputation for strict public security and have sparked public debate on underlying social issues, such as economic downturns, rising unemployment, and decreasing social mobility.

Concerns over Judicial Transparency

Although China keeps its death penalty statistics classified as state secrets, human rights organizations estimate that thousands are executed annually. Historically, executions have been carried out via gunfire, but lethal injections have gained traction in recent years, raising further concerns over the transparency of the judicial system.

Conclusion

As the nation grapples with these deep-seated issues, the executions of Fan and Xu serve as a stark reminder of the desperation and dissatisfaction some individuals experience within Chinese society today. How will the government address the root causes of such violence in an increasingly challenging social landscape? The world watches closely.