Chinese Urge Public To Speak Up; Malaysian Singer Namewee Reveals Death Threats From CCP

Did the common people really rebel? Netizens share video urging public to speak up. 8 months without pay. Wage protests surge across China. Economic recession. Pits everywhere in China. Beijing house prices halved. Economist. Economy may slowly implode. CCP goals unachievable. Xi'an University launches course. Students denounce CCP theory in class. Malaysian singer Namwee reveals death threats. Tour cancelled with significant losses. Belt and Road. Tunnel collapse on Taihai Speed Rail claims lives of two Chinese workers. It's all covered in today's China Truths. Did the common people really rebel? Netizens share video urging public to speak up. Public discontent and resistance are intensifying across mainland China. Recently, netizens have been posting videos on social media, calling for unity and encouraging people to speak out boldly against injustices. One video circulating online features a young man in a security uniform who declares, those who've turned our beautiful homeland into a chaotic mess are neither human nor ghost, certainly not gods, they're beasts in human skin. In another clip, a man passionately calls on his fellow citizens, saying, stand up. Enough with the cowardice. Defending fairness and justice isn't just one person's job, it's everyone's responsibility. Anyone who opposes the people stands against fairness and justice. If we unite, we can bring them down. Further videos highlight a father and son duo, taking turns on camera to urge unity. If you don't speak up, and I don't speak up, and if we all remain silent, the next generation will suffer. We'll just be like leeks, waiting to be cut. We can't afford to be weak anymore. It's time to rise up. Rise up, people who refuse to be slaves. Another video shows a man rallying those at the grassroots level, reminding viewers, unity is strength. We must always remember that a single spark can start a prairie fire. Meanwhile, as previously reported, large groups of young people in Shandong have been gathering in Zhengzhou district, Jinan. They have openly insulted traffic police and even stormed the city government building. Videos show some riding electric scooters at high speed, while others skin for shared bikes or sprint down the streets, joining the crowd. They bluntly taunt the police, shouting, come arrest me, arrest me. Although the police presence is limited and officers seem reluctant to intervene, they did manage to apprehend one young man who had fallen from his bike. Netizens have been vocal in their support, with comments such as, we must unite and resist, only then can we hope to improve the situation. Freedom isn't free. Others noted, perhaps Bangladesh has given everyone hope, and even the faintest voice could be the straw that breaks the camel's back. Amazing, overthrowing the CCP seems within reach. And another observed, I bet these people have seen a lot from bypassing the firewall, so they're eager to take action. Wage protests surge across China. China's economy continues to struggle, with ongoing issues like unemployment, layoffs, and salary cuts. Even government agencies and hospitals are unable to pay wages, triggering protests across the country. In Hunan's Puyang City, the first hospital of Qingfeng County has failed to pay its staff for eight months, leading to a strike by medical workers. On August 28, the hospital issued a notice acknowledging the difficulties faced by employees. Due to insufficient funds, it managed to provide each staff member, including management, with 1,000 yuan, approximately $141, to address immediate needs. The notice also assured that efforts are being made to raise funds, with plans to pay the January 2024 wages before the mid-autumn festival using a new performance-based calculation. Outstanding benefits and loans will be gradually resolved. The hospital said that there were no preferential or early payments for management and called on all staff to prioritize the hospital's stability and development, urging them to work together through these challenging times. Public reactions were swift, with netizens expressing, if even teachers and doctors aren't getting paid, what hope do ordinary people have? and highlighting concerns that government finances are essentially bankrupt, predicting such incidents will become more frequent. Videos of wage protests from various sectors have been widely circulated online. On August 28, hundreds of workers at CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Company, limited in Jiangmen Hangtong Shipbuilding Company, limited in Jiangmen, Guangdong, went on strike, demanding wages that have been overdue for a year. From August 26 to 27, sanitation workers in Gongshiling City, Jilin Province, went on strike for two days straight, demanding their wages, which have been unpaid for six months. On August 26, construction workers at the Baofeng Power Station Project under Shandong Electric Power Construction No. 1 Company in Tuk Industrial Park, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, staged a strike over unpaid wages. Also on August 26, in Songnan County, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, hundreds of construction workers at the Sanyao Nuclear Power Project, run by China Construction Second Bureau, went on strike due to months of unpaid wages, with the protest continuing into the night. Protests and strikes over unpaid wages like these happen almost daily across mainland China. Official CCP data shows that from January to July this year, personal income tax revenue totaled 852.9 billion yuan, about 120.24 billion dollars, down 5.5% year-on-year, outpacing the 5.4% decline in national tax revenue for the same period. In 2023, personal income tax also dropped by 1%. Epoch Times columnist Wang Yi suggests that the sharp drop in personal income tax reflects significant shifts in China's economy, with deep-seated crises starting to come to light. Economic recession pits everywhere in China. Beijing house prices halved. Online reports are circulating about a new layoff method in China, where company leaders take teams targeted for layoffs to engage in illegal activities, such as going to KTV, gambling, or driving under the influence. Afterward, these leaders report the group leading to arrests. The companies then use this as a reason to dismiss the employees, saving significant layoff costs. This approach is reportedly being used by many state-owned and older companies, with some firms laying off dozens, or even over 200 people, with zero cost. In the current economic downturn, there are pitfalls everywhere in China. Meanwhile, the unemployment wave continues, and plummeting housing prices have also hit the capital, Beijing. A recent video by Tom Finance, a self-media outlet, said that Wanlu in Haitian district is not only a core area of the capital but also a prime school district. Hummingbird Garden, in particular, is seen as a benchmark property within these school districts. On August 13, a unit in Hummingbird Garden sold for 4.7 million yuan, around $663,331, equivalent to 108,000 yuan per square meter. The same unit type was sold for 4.95 million yuan on June 6, nearly $700,000, marking a 250,000 yuan, or about $35,283, drop in just over two months. Notably, three years ago, the same unit type sold for 9.85 million yuan, meaning prices have fallen over 52%, essentially halving and returning to 2016 levels. Those who bought homes are now stuck, and renting isn't easy either. Mainland journalists discovered that several rental agencies in Jinan have stated that people over 50 are not allowed to rent shared apartments. China is approaching a period where people's livelihoods are increasingly at risk. An article recently published by the Liberty Times, written by international affairs researcher Chen Jun, suggested that the economic downturn could spark an internal crisis within the CCP, and that regime collapse is already inevitable. Chen Jun argued that the economic decline has reduced the CCP's fiscal revenue, leading to stagnation within the system and difficulties in maintaining stability. As a result, the government has been allocating more resources to stability maintenance, which in turn worsens the economic recession, creating a vicious cycle that pushes China toward instability. Chen Jun believes the CCP's regime is now on a countdown. Adding more perspective, Chinese economist Li Hengqing, based in the US, stated in an interview with Radio Taiwan International last September that poor economic conditions alone will not directly cause the regime to collapse. He noted that North Korea frequently suffers famines, yet the Kim family maintains power through military force. Li suggested that there is only one possible scenario in which the regime could be at risk. If the Chinese people stop fearing the CCP's oppressive rule, then a severe economic crisis triggering widespread public discontent could lead to a regime crisis for the CCP. He believes that Xi Jinping is currently betting that the Chinese people will not rebel, as long as they have a little to eat and can survive. Therefore, regardless of how bad China's economy gets, Xi Jinping is not afraid. He thinks the worst-case scenario is a return to the planned economy of the 1960s, implementing a militarized rationing system. Economist Economy may slowly implode, CCP goals unachievable. The real estate crisis has severely impacted China's economy over the past two years, dragging down the job market, consumer spending, and household wealth. Authorities have introduced measures to restore investor confidence, but these efforts have been slow and inadequate. Consequently, China's stock market continues to struggle. The CSI 300 index, which tracks onshore Chinese stocks, has fallen by 4.2% so far in 2024, marking its fourth consecutive year of decline, while broader Asian stock indices have climbed nearly 10%. The financial strain has also spread to wider financial markets, affecting individual investors. According to China Securities Journal on Aug. 29, nearly half of the 27 closed-end three-year mutual funds launched in 2021 are facing losses of over 40% as they approach the end of their term. Out of the 74 analysts tracked by Bloomberg, 51 predict that China's economic growth rate in 2024 could fall below 5%. Among them is Alpine macro strategist Wang Yan, who recently returned from China and expressed doubts about achieving the 5% growth target, describing it as almost impossible. He further cautioned about the risk of a slow implosion in China's economy. Wang criticized Chinese policymakers for lacking a clear and coherent strategy to address these challenges, describing their current measures to tackle demand issues as temporary and indecisive. In this context, global banks collectively predict that China is unlikely to achieve a 5% growth rate. On Aug. 28, UBS Group downgraded its forecast for China's economy, cutting the 2024 growth projection from 4.9% to 4.6% and lowering the 2025 forecast to 4%. This follows similar downward revisions by JPMorgan and Nomura Securities, as a consensus builds among major banks that China's growth will fall short, despite reassurances from Chinese leaders. The ongoing real estate slump is a key factor, deeply affecting domestic demand and confidence. UBS economist Wang Tao warned that the impact of weak real estate activity on the economy could be worse than anticipated, dragging down household consumption. Efforts by Beijing to revive the market, such as easing mortgage rates and lowering down payments, have been slow and limited in effect. UBS predicts that new construction starts will not bottom out until mid-2026, as the sector faces fundamental challenges, including weak income growth, low confidence, high inventories, and slow reduction in stock. Xi'an University launches course, students denounce CCP theory in class. The Chinese Communist authorities have made Fundamentals of Marxism a mandatory course for all university students, but the course's dry and tedious content has left students struggling. Recently, a video surfaced online showing a student at Northwestern University in Xi'an, Shaanxi, expressing frustration during a class on August 27. The student shouted, I am not a CCP member, I don't believe in communism, I don't like the Communist Party, and I am annoyed by these stupid theories. This outburst led to a confrontation between the student and a pro-CCP Little Pink, with another student attempting to intervene and calm the situation. Public information indicates that Fundamentals of Marxism is one of four mandatory ideological courses for all undergraduates across majors, as required by the CCP. The course's abstract and dull content has led to widespread student reluctance, with many complaining about its complexity. Despite these challenges, schools strictly enforce attendance, penalize absences by blacklisting students, and deny graduation certificates to those who fail exams. Many students reluctantly comply, often viewing it as a waste of time. A student from Jiangxi Agricultural University commented, This course is designed to glorify the greatness of Marxist thought, indoctrinate us with the correctness of the CCP's ideology, and make us follow the Communist Party's lead. Every 90-minute session feels like torture to me. Those who don't actively participate in these classes face penalties. Teachers demand full attendance, and missing a class results in a two-point deduction from the final grade. Other courses don't have such strict requirements. Professor Feng Chongyi from the University of Technology Sydney remarked, Brainwashing education is a hallmark of totalitarian regimes. From kindergarten, political indoctrination is prioritized. Independent thinking and judgment are not fostered from an early age, and genuine cognitive abilities are systematically destroyed. This is profoundly tragic. Last year, amid a nationwide campaign to promote Xi Jinping thought, CCP leader Xi Jinping simultaneously pushed for a so-called integration of Marxism and Chinese culture. Critics have questioned, How can something theistic be integrated with atheism? This forced combination, expected to produce some kind of chemical reaction, is creating a new monstrosity, a demon cloaked in the guise of Chinese culture. Analysts suggest that Xi's initiative to combine Marxism with Chinese culture stems from the CCP's struggle amid internal and external crises and its inability to find a clear path forward. At the same time, Xi seeks to secure his rule for the long term and realize the dream of a red empire, but this approach is fundamentally flawed. Malaysian singer Namwee reveals death threats, tour cancelled with significant losses. Last April, Malaysian Chinese singer-songwriter Namwee, or also called Huang Mingji, held his 4896 World Tour concert in Taipei, receiving an enthusiastic response. However, the subsequent 15 shows were unexpectedly cancelled. Recently, Namwee posted a long message on social media explaining that his partners, who usually conduct business in China, received threats and intimidation, forcing them to withdraw from further collaboration. This led to the tour's cancellation, resulting in severe financial losses for Namwee. He had planned to address the matter in a press conference on Tuesday, August 27, but it was abruptly cancelled. Namwee, through his management company, expressed that he is currently facing immense pressure and unforeseen obstacles. He is negotiating and coordinating the situation and will provide a public response as soon as possible. He requested the media's understanding and apologized for any inconvenience caused, stating, In the emergency notice, he also posted a Winnie the Pooh sticker with the message, Stay strong, Namwee. We will not give up. Namwee himself also received threats. In April 2024, he received a call from Cambodia, demanding the immediate removal of his music videos Descendants of the Dragon and Fragile from all platforms. He was told that the removal would be negotiable for a price, but if not complied with, there would be life-threatening consequences. Namwee admitted he was terrified but recalled the meaning behind the name his grandfather gave him, which includes the character Ji, signifying ambition. His grandfather taught him to be a person of determination, so Namwee refused to comply. Namwee understands that products or singers linked to China might hesitate to work with him, but he did not expect that his activities and concerts outside China would also be affected. He emphasized that he does not blame any partners and believes that justice will prevail over evil. He concluded with the message, If you don't stand up today, you won't be able to stand tomorrow. If you kneel today, tomorrow they will make you lie down. In the end, even silence becomes a crime. Let this be an encouragement for everyone. Belt and Road, tunnel collapse on Thai high-speed rail claims lives of two Chinese workers. An incident has struck the China-Thailand High-Speed Railway, a key project under China's Belt and Road Initiative, as a severe tunnel collapse occurred in northeastern Thailand. The collapse happened around 11.30 p.m. local time on August 24, trapping a Chinese excavator operator, a Chinese foreman, and a Burmese truck driver inside the tunnel. Rescue operations were launched immediately by the State Railway of Thailand, but progress was hampered by ongoing falls of soil and debris. On Thursday, August 29, rescuers discovered the body of the Burmese truck driver. By Friday, August 30, authorities confirmed that all three workers had died in the collapse, including two Chinese and one Burmese worker. Construction of the China-Thailand High-Speed Railway began in 2017 as a flagship project of China's Belt and Road Initiative. The railway has a budget of 179 billion Thai Baht, approximately $5.28 billion, and spans about 251 kilometers. 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