Beijing, China — A series of brutal attacks has thrust China into a period of deep social introspection, prompting citizens and experts alike to question the underlying causes of these sudden eruptions of violence against strangers. The phenomonon, characterized by its random nature and sheer brutality, has peaked significantly in 2024, marking a shift in societal tensions and indicating deeper systemic issues within the country.
Throughout the past year, China has witnessed a shocking rise in mass violence, with incidents soaring to 19 in 2024 up from an average of three to five annually in previous years. The severity of the attacks has also escalated, with the latest figures painting a grim picture: 63 fatalities and 166 injuries, up markedly from 16 deaths and 40 injuries in 2023.
This disturbing trend culminated fatally on November 11 when a 62-year-old man, reportedly discontented with his divorce outcome, drove his car into a crowd in Zhuhai, killing at least 35 people. Days later, a financial dispute triggered another assailant to injure 30 outside a primary school in Changde. That same month, a university student who had failed his exams killed eight in a stabbing spree on his campus in Wuxi.
Experts are attempting to dissect the motivations behind these horrifying acts, often described by perpetrators as “revenge on society”. David Schak, an associate professor at Griffith University, notes that these attacks are reflective of a broader societal distress and often appear to be influenced by prior incidents, suggesting a troubling trend of copycat violence.
China’s economic climate might be partially to blame. The country faces slowing growth, spiraling youth unemployment, and a real estate crisis that has left many citizens financially stranded. These economic stressors are creating palpable tension and desperation among the populace.
George Magnus, a research associate at Oxford University’s China Centre, interprets this unrest as a sign of increasing pessimism about personal and national prospects, linked closely to perceptions of an unfair economic system and governance. “People feel trapped in a cycle of both social and economic repression,” Magnus explains, painting a bleak picture of the current mood among many Chinese.
The tightly controlled media environment in China further exacerbates feelings of powerlessness among its citizens. Without a free press to champion their grievances or a judicial system seen as just and efficient, many feel their voices are stifled. This lack of outlets for legal recourse or public discourse contributes significantly to the societal pressure cooker.
Online censorship and the suppression of dissent have also intensified, argues Lynette Ong, a political science professor at the University of Toronto. Despite the government’s vast surveillance apparatus, individuals are finding it increasingly difficult to push back against perceived injustices, with even moderate forms of protest and expression being clamped down.
Addressing mental health could be part of the solution, suggests Professor Silvia Kwok from Hong Kong’s City University. She recommends expanding mental health services and building emotional resilience among at-risk populations to help mitigate the impulse toward violent retribution.
The increasing violence in China offers a stark warning about the pressures brewing beneath the surface of its society. While the government has responded with measures to improve police response times and surveillance, experts like Ong argue that these solutions may be too superficial. China, she warns, could be on the cusp of “unexpected events” as societal tensions continue to build, demanding deeper introspection and more substantive changes from its leaders.