As we enter 2025, several events in mainland China have triggered a wave of public opinion. The cases of Li Yixue in Nanchang, Jiangxi, the large-scale confrontation between police and civilians in Pucheng, Shaanxi, and the recent abduction and trafficking of Chinese nationals in a scam theme park in Myanmar all share a common thread – widespread online public opinion that not only opposes the official narrative but also voices strong skepticism and opposition. Particularly, the Li Yixue case has garnered nationwide attention from Chinese netizens, revealing a sharp contrast in views between the Chinese people and the authorities. Is China currently experiencing a series of major uprisings in public opinion?
Independent TV producer Li Jun stated in the New Tang Dynasty TV’s “Elite Forum” program that according to a recent official announcement, Li Yixue’s father has taken her back. However, a video online shows her seemingly not being brought home, but rather staying in a hotel under surveillance or other unclear circumstances. Nevertheless, her release from the psychiatric hospital is a positive development. The efforts made by numerous individuals, including the public, authoritative experts, scholars, and legal professionals advocating for Li Yixue, along with Mr. Du Wen’s strong support for her, are putting significant pressure on local governments.
In an online video, Li Yixue did not appear in person but responded to some questions from netizens. She claimed to be perfectly normal, denouncing the psychiatric evaluation as false and forced upon her under duress, leading to her being filmed in an angry state and then labeled as mentally ill. Li Yixue expressed her fear of being disappeared again. Despite showing signs of distress, her thought process remained clear, indicating her mental soundness.
Li Jun mentioned that Li Yixue’s father released a statement refuting the claim that he ever agreed to have Li Yixue sent to a mental hospital, alleging that all signatures were forged. This statement is crucial because without the family’s consent, the local authorities forcibly sending her to a psychiatric hospital would be a clear violation of Chinese law.
Dewen, a Chinese legal scholar residing in Europe, stated on the “Elite Forum” that as per the amended Article 8 of China’s Mental Health Law in 2018, the State Council Health Administrative Department is the main authority overseeing national health work, while local governments at the county level or above handle mental health work within their respective administrative regions. Various governmental departments such as judiciary, civil affairs, public security, education, and medical security are responsible for mental health issues within their scope of duties.
This law clearly designates the Health Administrative Department as the primary authority for mental health work. The public security organs only participate within their responsibilities, typically in cases involving patients in criminal or security threats. However, in practice, certain public security organs, like Inner Mongolia Public Security Bureau, operate dedicated psychiatric hospitals like the Ankang Hospital, primarily under the administration of the public security organs.
According to the general provisions of the Mental Health Law, the public security bureau cannot arbitrarily admit ordinary individuals to psychiatric hospitals. The procedure for involuntary hospitalization is strictly limited – only when specific legal conditions and procedures are met can the public security organs intervene. Yet, upon deeper examination of China’s Mental Health Law combined with judicial practice, it becomes evident that public security bureaus indeed have the authority to confine ordinary individuals to psychiatric hospitals. As long as they perceive a person as potentially endangering others’ lives or public safety – even just a possibility, concrete actions are not mandatory.
The conditions for involuntary hospitalization are stipulated by Article 30 of the Mental Health Law, requiring strict adherence to two criteria for forced treatment. First, severe self-endangerment with clear suicidal tendencies that the patient or their guardians are unable to manage independently or in a domestic setting, contingent upon guardian consent. The second scenario involves severe endangerment to others’ safety, where the patient poses a real danger or has the potential to jeopardize others’ lives. In such cases, the guardian’s agreement is essential – regardless of the circumstances. If the guardian disagrees, the community government or neighborhood committee can decide to send the individual for treatment.
This implies that as long as the public security organs deem someone a potential threat to others, regardless of guardian consent, with authorization from the local community or village committees, they can forcibly transfer the individual to a psychiatric hospital for compulsory treatment. In many regions, public security organs are increasingly misusing the concept of social harm to routinely admit ordinary individuals to psychiatric hospitals.
Especially concerning politically sensitive groups, such as dissidents like Zhang Pancheng, petitioners, these individuals are frequently coerced into psychiatric treatment by public security organs under the pretext of mental abnormalities. Also, under the guise of social governance needs and maintaining stability, public security organs often collaborate with certain hospitals to admit individuals they deem unstable, constituting a clear abuse of power under the law. Though seemingly legitimate, in reality, it amounts to flagrant abuses of authority and human rights violations.
Senior editor and columnist Shishan from Dajiyuan mentioned on the “Elite Forum” that regarding the Li Yixue case, firstly, there is no evidence suggesting she poses a threat to public order or the safety of others. Secondly, she vehemently denies having any suicidal tendencies. In such circumstances, the hiring of experts by the public security organs to assess her, with these supposed experts delivering the results desired by the authorities, raises significant concerns.
Dewen stated on the “Elite Forum” that the crux of the current controversy lies in the fact that Li Yixue is, in reality, a normal individual acting conscientiously. Based on common sense, it is evident that she is not a psychiatric patient. At the very least, many believe Li Yixue to be rational, not a violent threat to others. The individuals suffering from mental illnesses in this case are the supposed mental health experts, the government officials sheltered by the Communist Party, and the policemen who unjustly label ordinary people as mentally ill and forcibly medicate them in psychiatric hospitals.
Dewen emphasized that the Li Yixue incident ultimately reflects a political crisis, a crisis of trust in the Communist Party regime, devoid of any connection to the law. The ensuing global condemnation and questioning of the Chinese Communist Party triggered by the event manifest a worldwide wave of dissent and criticism against the party’s authority, judicial institutions, and the credibility of psychiatric evaluation bodies, all of which have utterly lost their integrity. This is not merely a matter of diminished credibility but rather a complete absence of it. The Chinese Communist Party is now in direct opposition to the entire world and the conscience of mankind.
Dewen further proposed that the Li Yixue incident should be among China’s top ten news events of 2024. Like he mentioned in the “Snowflake Operation” video, currently, the collective efforts made locally and globally are insufficient to save one vulnerable woman. This is an outright insult by the Communist Party towards normal individuals worldwide and a severe trampling of human conscience, presenting a matter of great significance.
Shishan stated on the “Elite Forum” that similar incidents have been observed in the past, with most cases being resolved through communication between the parties involved and the authorities. Typically, online opinion is divided into two factions – one supporting the official narrative and the other endorsing the public opinion. The reason this particular event is deemed a public opinion uprising is due to a clear and overwhelming stance taken by netizens, demonstrating a significant collapse in the authority of the official narrative.
Media veteran Guo Jun expressed in the “Elite Forum” that the official authority of the Communist Party indeed faces significant challenges. It has been previously discussed that two conditions are critical for the Communist Party’s downfall, with economic crisis being the more crucial one. Currently, China is on the brink of a major economic crisis, leading to substantial societal pressures. In response, the authorities are resorting to further exploiting the population, resulting in widespread discontent towards the Communist Party’s officials.
The commencement of this year witnessed three major events – the Li Yixue case, the kidnapping of Chinese nationals at a theme park in Myanmar, and the incident in Pucheng, Shaanxi, all sharing a common trait: complete mistrust in the official narrative by the public, with public opinion strongly against the Communist Party, especially highlighted in the Pucheng event.
Pucheng County neighbors Fuping County, where the mausoleum of Xi Jinping’s father, Xi Zhongxun, is situated. There have been reports that officials from Shanxi are parading to Xi Zhongxun’s mausoleum to collect a bit of soil, believing it brings them good luck, allowing for career advancement within the government. Thousands of people protested in Pucheng County, and though the authorities mobilized a considerable number of police forces to suppress the discontent, reports indicate that the local residents remain defiant, forming dozens of action groups to engage in prolonged confrontations with the local government. However, the methods and strategies of their resistance remain unclear.
Guo Jun elucidated that besides direct control and oppression, the Communist Party’s current regime also exercises ideological control by manipulating public opinion and propagating deceit to govern the population’s thoughts. While this approach has been effective in previous years, particularly during China’s two decades of rapid economic growth, where most people were experiencing improved living standards, the ongoing economic crisis and heightened pressures are evolving into societal doubts about the regime, a trend that is now unmistakably prevalent.
Dewen shared on the “Elite Forum” that in the past two years, the conflicts between the government and the people expressing dissatisfaction or direct opposition are not limited to grassroots vulnerable groups but increasingly involve high-ranking individuals considered beneficiaries of the system. This shift includes entrepreneurs, intellectuals, and professionals, with a growing number of Communist Party officials joining the protest movements. Several factors contribute to this development.
Firstly, the tightening policies and governance under Xi Jinping have sharply curtailed societal space, fueling escalated discontent across different strata due to the increasingly stringent social management.
Secondly, the economic downturn and wealth redistribution, particularly in offshore fishing industries showcasing unfair competition, have led to an exodus of entrepreneurs and middle-class individuals struggling to sustain themselves, effectively turning many middle-class citizens into proletarians or even negative assets, amplifying widespread grievances.
Furthermore, heightened awareness of rights among intellectuals has surged. The development of the internet, coupled with cascading reports on various shocking events in fields like medicine and academia – such as the Wang Xing incident – have significantly spurred the intellectual class.
Lastly, prolonged disciplining within the Communist Party has rendered officials unable to make ends meet, resulting in oppression and resistance. Anywhere there is oppression, resistance inevitably emerges from individuals struggling to survive.
Guo Jun asserted on the “Elite Forum” that any societal transformation ultimately hinges on the decisions of elite social strata, with lower-tier resistance leading to systemic disruptions and considerable chaos. However, the aftermath of chaos determines whether a new societal force emerges, forming a directional consensus across society or organized action – necessitating participation from societal elites.
During the eras of Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao, when China’s economy was expanding, societal elites constituted a part of the established beneficiaries, including the so-called Iron Triangle of power elites, wealthy elites, and knowledge elites – all benefiting from China’s economic growth over the past two to three decades. The coalescence of interests among these three categories formed the bedrock sustaining China’s societal stability. Nonetheless, a noticeable shift in circumstances is now apparent.
Today, it is observable that knowledge and wealth elites are increasingly fleeing China, with a substantial number unable to escape, remaining on the mainland to exercise their roles. This indicates a growing dissent among societal elites towards the Communist Party’s regime, a stark transformation from past norms.
Looking ahead, Guo Jun anticipates a distinctly different societal evolution in China in the coming years, especially under Xi Jinping’s personal dictatorship for governing. Should any issues arise with his leadership, the entire system might collapse.
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