On July 6, 2024, a breach in the Dongting Lake embankment in Tuanzhou County, Huarong County, Hunan Province, expanded to 226 meters. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)
[The Epoch Times, July 9, 2024](Epoch Times reporter Luo Ya reported in an interview) After a sudden piping crisis occurred in the first-line embankment of Dongting Lake in Tuanzhou District, Huarong County, Hunan Province, the local emergency blocking method failed, causing the embankment to burst and resulting in widespread flooding. The Huarong County Government subsequently issued a donation announcement to the public, which was met with ridicule by netizens; corporate donations were also boycotted by netizens. Analysts believe that the mainland people now seriously distrust the government and believe that official rescue efforts are inadequate and donations will not reach the victims.
On the followingnoon of July 5th, water seepage occurred in Dongting Lake in Huarong County, Hunan Province. The local method was to “use vehicles instead of warehouses”. Eight large trucks with large banners of “use vehicles instead of warehouses” were prepared and filled with sand. However, the loose sand disappeared instantly, and the eight swaying trucks might not stop the river water, leading to the embankment’s collapse, attracting widespread attention.
Chinese media reported that as of 12:00 on July 6, the dam breach was regarding 220 meters wide, the average water depth in the embankment was regarding 5 meters, and the submerged area was 47.64 square kilometers, accounting for 92.5% of the total area of Tuanzhou embankment. Thousands of people in Tuanzhou District were evacuated urgently, their houses and other property were destroyed, and the losses were incalculable.
On the followingnoon of July 6, the Huarong County Government issued an announcement requesting social donations, including caring people from all walks of life, caring enterprises, and other caring organizations, and accepted donations in the name of the Huarong County Charity Federation.
However, netizens had a strong backlash once morest the official “Notice on Accepting Social Donations”, which was met with ridicule on various social media platforms. Some attentive netizens collected feedback from netizens and shared it on overseas social media platforms.
On July 6, the Huarong County Government in Hunan Province made an announcement requesting donations from the society, which was ridiculed by netizens. (Network screenshot)
The Epoch Times reporter found that even if this announcement was forwarded in a private name, it still caused complaints from netizens. Ms. Lu from Beijing, who has two million followers on Weibo, retweeted the content of “Huarong County, Hunan Province Issues Notice on Accepting Social Donations” on July 7. In the comment area: Netizens in Chongqing said, “Let those international students donate, give such a high scholarship.” Netizens in Beijing said, “Let’s blame Nongfu Spring for donating, they are patriotic.” Netizens in Shanghai said, “If good things don’t come to you, nothing good will come to you.” Netizens in Yunnan said, “The country has so much generosity, so it should not be short of money.” A Hebei netizen said, “Anyone who wants to remit money online is most likely an internet fraud.”
Even the victims of Pingjiang County, which was flooded a week earlier than Huarong County, and also belongs to Yueyang City, publicly appealed on the Internet not to donate, and wrote in eye-catching characters several times larger: “I am a Hunanese, and I am a native of Pingjiang! Advice: You don’t need to donate, and if you donate, it won’t reach the public!” Attached is the “Announcement on Accepting Social Donations” from the local Pingjiang County government.
Victims of the disaster in Pingjiang County, Hunan Province publicly appealed online not to donate money to the government because it would not reach the victims. (Network screenshot)
Netizens not only complained regarding the government’s request for donations but also expressed resistance to corporate donations.
The mainland enterprise “Bawang Cha Ji” donated 5 million to Huarong County. Instead of applause, there was a boycott in the comment area, saying that they would not buy Bawang Cha Ji in the future. A Shanghai netizen said, “It is better to use this money to raise employees’ wages. Post-disaster reconstruction is the state’s business. The state spends a lot of money. Look at the office buildings of local governments… Local governments have incurred debts of tens of millions, hundreds of millions, or billions. The money was squandered by them, and the donated money was also wasted on them.”
A company donated 5 million to the disaster relief in Huarong County, Hunan, but was boycotted by netizens. (Network screenshot)
Netizens in Guangxi said, “We actually use our hard-earned money to donate.” Netizens also said, “I will never drink Bawang Chaji once more. Drinking too much will affect IQ.” “Resolutely boycott!! Absolutely. I won’t buy a drink!”
On July 6, “Mingming Busy Group” also donated 5 million to Huarong County, but also encountered resistance from many netizens.
Mingming Busy Group donated 5 million to Huarong County, but was boycotted by netizens. (Network screenshot)
A mainland lawyer told The Epoch Times that the epidemic and the rapid economic decline in recent years have led to a severe strain on people’s livelihoods. Many people are unemployed and struggling, including many who cannot afford to pay off their mortgages. Many people do not feel that corrupt officials are truly caring and considerate of the people. At this time, the government comes out to ask for donations, and the people feel disgusted.
Regarding the boycott of donation companies, the lawyer said, “They think it is a bit of a show because they cannot reach the hands of ordinary people. They are really awakened by their usual indifference, so they make a voice to boycott. This kind of behavior expresses their inner dissatisfaction.” “It reflects their inner awakening and sees through the hypocrisy of the CCP system, which is inhumane.”
Lai Rongwei, CEO of the Taiwan Inspirational Association (TIA), also told The Epoch Times that these performances by netizens show that the people are full of distrust of the entire country’s government and the entire party. There is also a lack of trust between people and between people and enterprises.
He further said, “China is an authoritarian and centralized country, and this government may misappropriate your so-called designated donations. Therefore, the materials and money you donate may not actually reach the hands of the victims. Moreover, your governance efficiency also makes People are very skeptical. If there is no way to distribute the donated food to the victims within a few days, the food will spoil and go to waste. The food is the people’s money. “
He believes that the common people in the entire Chinese society are now like clay bodhisattvas crossing the river and cannot protect themselves, because the common people in China now range from young people to middle-aged people with families, and they may not be so optimistic regarding China’s economic development in the next few years. Faced with serious corruption, Chinese netizens will sarcastically say that it is best not to donate money. They are also worried that the companies that donate will become complicit institutions that help the party-state do bad things.
Editor in charge: Sun Yun#
Hunan Dam Breach Sparks Public Outrage and Distrust in Government
A dam breach in Hunan Province, China, has sparked widespread outrage and distrust in the government. The first-line embankment of Dongting Lake in Tuanzhou County, Huarong County, collapsed on July 6, 2024, following a sudden piping crisis. The local emergency blocking method failed, leading to the embankment’s collapse and widespread flooding.
Failed Emergency Response and Public Backlash
The incident began on July 5th when water seepage occurred in Dongting Lake. The local government’s emergency response proved ineffective. They attempted to fill the gap with sand using eight large trucks, but the loose sand quickly disappeared. The embankment eventually burst, resulting in flooding that submerged 92.5% of the Tuanzhou embankment area.
Thousands of people were urgently evacuated, and their houses and property were destroyed. The Huarong County Government subsequently issued an announcement requesting donations from the public, including caring individuals, businesses, and organizations. However, this announcement was met with widespread ridicule and criticism on social media platforms.
Netizen Outrage and Boycott of Donations
Netizens expressed their distrust of the government and their concerns that donated funds would not reach the victims. They pointed to previous instances where government-led donation campaigns failed to effectively distribute aid to those in need.
The victims of a flood in Pingjiang County, which also belongs to Yueyang City, publicly appealed on the internet once morest donations, stating that the money would not reach the victims. Their message, which was widely shared, reflected the public’s deep distrust in the government’s ability to manage donations effectively.
Boycott of Corporate Donations
The public backlash extended to corporate donations as well. When mainland enterprises “Bawang Cha Ji” and “Mingming Busy Group” each donated 5 million yuan to Huarong County, they faced a wave of boycotts. Netizens criticized these companies for contributing to the government’s perceived corruption and inefficiency. They voiced their frustration that their hard-earned money might be misused and demanded transparency in the allocation of donated funds.
Underlying Reasons for Public Distrust
Analysts attribute the public’s distrust to several factors, including:
- Widespread economic hardship: The COVID-19 pandemic and China’s economic slowdown have left many people struggling financially, making them wary of donating to government-led initiatives.
- Skepticism towards government transparency: The Chinese government’s history of corruption and lack of transparency has eroded public trust. Netizens are skeptical that donated funds will reach the victims directly.
- Rising disillusionment with the CCP: The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) handling of the pandemic and other crises, coupled with its increasingly authoritarian policies, have led to a growing sense of disillusionment among the public. This has fueled a desire for greater accountability and transparency from the government.
Increased Public Awareness and Demand for Accountability
The public backlash once morest the Huarong County government’s donation appeal reflects a shift in the public’s attitude towards the CCP. Years of social media activism and exposure to international news have contributed to a growing awareness of the CCP’s shortcomings, including its corruption, lack of transparency, and human rights abuses.
The incident has highlighted the growing demand for accountability and transparency from the government. Netizens are increasingly using social media to hold officials accountable and challenge the party-state’s narrative. This trend is likely to continue, particularly in the wake of major tragedies and societal crises.