Since November 2024, public violence in China has skyrocketed, but why? What would cause normal citizens to become so angry that they would just start lashing out at institutions and others in attacks labelled “revenge against society”?

Chinese citizens are becoming increasingly upset with how the government distributes minimal social services and the lack of opportunities. Under the Hukou system, rural workers are unable to migrate to the city in search of work and housing. Many State-Owned Enterprises (SEOs) also contribute to the wage imbalance, financial insecurity, inconsistent medical insurance, an abysmal social safety net & lack of pension that rural workers face (Chou). There is also the dibao system in China, which is supposed to guarantee a set minimum income for rural families, but only 20-30% of eligible families have received this income. China is also facing an all-time high of youth unemployment, at 16% (Chou).

On top of the social unrest being faced by citizens, there are also significant political and economic troubles in China. China’s GDP has been rising more slowly each year, with it only reaching 4.6% at the end of 2024 (Chou). This has led to the Chinese government attempting to cut interest and mortgage rates to incentivise workers and enhance economic growth.

Due to the inability to climb the social ladder, employment insecurity, & lacking public safety net, Chinese citizens are slowly starting to realize that it is no longer a merit-based system, where hard work is rewarded. It is now a system where no matter how hard you work, you will be stuck where you started. This has led to significant public dissatisfaction, increases in movements protesting for social changes, & public violence and murders. In 2024 alone, over 63 people were killed, and 166 were injured during these acts of violence towards the public (Chou). The Chinese government has not helped with the matter, as it is illegal to discuss these events and the current underlying mental health problems related to them online. Any videos, witnesses, or mentions of these attacks online are taken down by censors almost automatically, inhibiting any conversations from being had.

Historically, internal turmoil such as economic disparities and heavy protesting has led to strained global relations. According to The Diplomat, it is possible that due to these reasons, the Chinese government might place more stress on Taiwan, with a high possibility of a war over Taiwan in the next decade (Chou). Amidst the current internal and external pressures, all that can be done now is wait and ask, “What will China do now?”