China’s “Tofu-Dregs” Buildings Exposed in the Typhoon — Concrete Crumbles Like Biscuits

Typhoon Yagi, the 11th typhoon this year, made landfall in Wenchang, Hainan, on the afternoon of September 6th, becoming the second strongest typhoon to hit China since the founding of the Communist Party of China 75 years ago. It hit Hainan hard, and officials reported more than 100 casualties. Typhoon Yagi exposed the Tofu Dregs buildings in China. According to videos, many balconies and windowsills of residential buildings were completely swept away, and windows shattered. The scene was horrifying. Many mainland netizens left comments, cursing and pointing out that the typhoon had become a mirror for shoddy construction projects. Typhoon Yagi, the second strongest typhoon since the founding of the Communist Party, also exposed shoddy buildings. According to numerous videos on the X platform, after Typhoon Yagi landed on Hainan Island on the 6th, the storm not only caused heavy casualties, but also destroyed many residential high-rise buildings. Items such as balconies, windows, and iron railings were blown away, glass shattered, and even some residents' furniture disappeared. Some houses even lost their walls, roofs, and doors. People were terrified, screaming and clinging to walls to avoid being blown away by the storm. Wherever the storm went, chaos followed, with horrifying scenes everywhere. Many netizens commented that this typhoon was like a magic mirror, exposing China's tofu projects. Some mocked, what's the point of quickly building paper-thin high-rises? Cutting corners has become the pride of the Chinese people. Others added, it's not that Yagi is so strong, but that the houses built by animals are too weak. The CCP allocated a total of 200 million yuan in disaster relief to Hainan and Guangdong provinces, which was met with ridicule from netizens. Xinhua News Agency reported that on the 7th, China's National Development and Reform Commission issued a statement, announcing, the National Development and Reform Commission urgently allocated 200 million yuan, about 28 million U.S. dollars, from the central budget to support the emergency recovery in Hainan and Guangdong, focusing on the reconstruction of damaged roads, bridges, water conservancy embankments, schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure and public facilities in the disaster area, to restore normal production and living conditions as soon as possible. In response, netizen Erma G. remarked, tens of thousands of people have lost their homes, farmland has been destroyed, and lives are in jeopardy. Yet the central government only allocated 200 million yuan for post-disaster recovery. This insignificant amount is an insult compared to the actual needs. The central government's aid to Africa reaches as high as 360 billion yuan. Some netizens mocked, 200 million is just like throwing a few coins to beggars. Another said, you are the leaks of the human field, to be exploited and harvested. Now we have to spend money to help you with disaster recovery, so bow down and be grateful. The 200 million budget will probably amount to just 2 yuan per person in Hainan. We gave 360 billion yuan to Africa, but only 200 million yuan for the typhoon disaster in Hainan and Guangdong. Is this how humans behave? This is inhumane. Typhoon Yagi blew off, many wind turbines costing tens of millions. According to First Financial News, Typhoon Yagi damaged many wind turbines in a wind farm along the coast of Mulan Bay, in Wenchang, Hainan. A person in the wind power industry stated that the total cost of a 6.25 megawatt typhoon-resistant wind turbine exceeds 10 million yuan. According to a representative from Hainan company of Huaneng Group, around five or six wind turbines were broken by the typhoon. The project is still under expansion and has not yet generated electricity. A mainland netizen commented, Haiku Wenchang is really unlucky. They just replaced the smaller units with 6.25 megawatt ones, and the 1.5 megawatt turbines were basically blown off. The components inside the ones that survived are probably unusable. What a pity. Another added, the instantaneous wind speed of Typhoon Yagi reached 83.2 meters per second, which is far beyond the design limits of current wind turbines. The destructive power is terrifying. They also noted, although there are typhoons every year, this is the only one that has really affected wind turbines. Yagi swept away the balcony windows, and a photo of a Hainan girl sitting on an 18th floor balcony went viral. Recently, a photo of a Hainan girl sitting on a frameless balcony went viral on the internet, attracting widespread attention. At 16.20 on September 6, Typhoon Yagi made landfall in Wenchang, Hainan. When it hit, the maximum wind force near the center was over level 17, 62 meters per second. The area experienced violent storms and heavy rain, with incredible power. In an instant, many glass doors and windows of high-rise balconies were blown off, creating hazards everywhere. One girl living on the 18th floor moved a chair to sit on the balcony and gaze into the distance. Even though the windows and guard rails of the balcony had been blown away, this photo quickly went viral on the internet. On September 8, the person involved, Xiao Chen, told Upstream News, it happened at my home. I am just a junior high school student, living on the 18th floor. It occurred around 6 pm on September 6. The wind was very strong at the time, and the entire building was shaking. The balcony frame of the master bedroom was blown away. After the typhoon, Xiao Chen's mother posted a video titled Balcony Escaped in the Typhoon on social media, saying, I didn't expect this photo to become so popular. The picture shows my daughter, and the video captures clips of the balcony flying away. The uploaded video shows that Xiao Chen's master bedroom balcony was originally equipped with anti-theft nets and windows. As the wind grew stronger, the balcony windows and guard rails were eventually blown away. On September 7, Xiao Chen moved a reclining chair to sit on the balcony to rest, and her mother took a photo of her. Xiao Chen said, I was sitting on the master bedroom balcony, and my mother was on the living room balcony, so she took the picture, the two balconies were on the same side, and posted it on WeChat Moments. I didn't expect it to go viral. Xiao Chen added that not only her family, but also her neighbors suffered heavy losses. Although the windows of the apartments upstairs and downstairs remained, the glass was also shattered. Now, they need to contact someone to redecorate. Xiao Chen told the Beijing News that the typhoon was very strong at the time, and her whole family took shelter in the south-facing room. Regarding her calm appearance while sitting on the balcony, Xiao Chen admitted that she was very worried and scared when the typhoon hit. At the time, we moved everything to the south-facing room, but the most terrifying moments had already passed. As long as everyone was safe, I felt relatively calm afterward. Mainland netizens commented, it's so scary, that's too dangerous. Why do I feel she's It's the 18th floor. My legs started shaking just looking at the photo. I think it's better not to use large areas of glass to enclose balconies. It's okay to lose a few floors, but hers is completely gone. The global technology supply chain has entered the second stage of withdrawal from China. Multinational technology companies continue to withdraw from China. In addition to geopolitical factors, such as rising tensions between the United States and China, other key reasons include the Chinese Communist Party's increasing control over society and businesses, and the continued downturn of the Chinese economy. According to a recent report from S&P, the global technology supply chain's exit from China is ongoing and has now entered an irreversible second stage. This conclusion was presented in the latest market analysis report by Clifford Kurtz, chief credit analyst at S&P. The report states that downstream electronic manufacturing service EMS companies such as Foxconn, a subsidiary of Hanhai, began shifting their investments from China to countries like Vietnam and India during the first stage of this withdrawal, which is considered largely completed. In the second stage, technology companies are moving their midstream production capacity from China. This involves relocating intermediate processes, such as the production and assembly of core components. Since this requires substantial investment in factories and equipment, reversing these moves will be difficult once completed. Nevertheless, technology companies remain committed to their exit from China. The report highlights that to mitigate geopolitical risks and avoid potential disruptions to key supply chains, punitive tariffs, or other issues related to U.S.-China tensions, many tech companies are opting for a geographically more dispersed production layout. It is projected that between 2024 and 2026, suppliers of technology hardware, such as passive components, power electronics, motors, connectors, sensors, printed circuit boards, and outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing services may accelerate their investments in production facilities outside China. The fixed asset exposure of 14 midstream technology companies tracked by S&P has already decreased from a peak of 30% in 2021 to 26% in 2023. Over half of these companies' new investments in the past two years have been directed toward regions such as the Americas, the European Union, and parts of Asia, including Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and India. S&P concludes that this is just the beginning. Capital expenditure plans disclosed by major technology hardware companies for 2024 suggest that the trend toward supply chain diversification will continue. Hello, ladies and gentlemen. We have heard about China's real estate industry being on the brink of collapse. However, now high-rise buildings constructed with tofu dreg structures are actually collapsing as well. Today, I will share some significant news regarding poorly constructed buildings, such as the tofu buildings in China, and the resulting consequences for the people here. In China, the term tofu dregs, the remnants left after making tofu, is widely used as a metaphor for poor workmanship. This implies that a tofu dreg project denotes a poorly executed endeavor. The term tofu project was first coined by former Premier Zhu Rongji in 1998 when he remarked during a tour of the Yangtze River flood protection embankments that they were as fragile and spongy as tofu dregs, the leftovers from making tofu. The term gained national attention after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, where 20,000 of the nearly 70,000 victims were schoolchildren who died in collapsed school buildings that were later shown to have been hastily, carelessly, and shoddily built. In July 2010, anger over shoddy construction erupted in the hard-hit Sichuan earthquake area when a building that was intended to be a new home for earthquake victims collapsed just weeks before it was due to be put into use. The prevalence of these tofu projects results from rampant corruption and graft in China. Officials often skim money from projects, leaving insufficient funds for quality materials, qualified staff, and proper workmanship. Additionally, projects are frequently awarded to companies based on political connections rather than qualifications. Furthermore, tribute projects are often rushed to meet deadlines, particularly for state anniversaries. For example, in 2007, a bridge in Hunan Province collapsed during construction as it was hurriedly built for the 50th anniversary of the local prefecture's founding, resulting in 64 fatalities. Lastly, local governments heavily rely on revenue from construction activities, such as land sales and transfer fees, which incentivizes them to promote rapid and unchecked growth, even if it means turning a blind eye to substandard construction. In July 2021, another instance of tofu-dreg construction occurred in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, bringing the entire city to a standstill due to heavy rains and flooding. The city was referred to as a sponge city due to its vulnerable drainage system. While some argued that the unprecedented rainfall was to blame, evidence later surfaced pointing to weak infrastructure. Following a visit to China in early 2011, Canadian journalist Lawrence Solomon expressed concerns shared by many Chinese citizens about the potential failure of a tofu dam, which could lead to hundreds of thousands of downstream victims. Chinese architect Li Hu noted that while tofu-dreg projects are prevalent in China, they are outnumbered by buildings without construction flaws. However, he mentioned that poorly constructed buildings often suffer reduced lifespans or leakages rather than collapse. A survey conducted in February 2023 on natural disaster risks reported nearly 600 million buildings in China. The rapid urbanization drive in China has resulted in many residential and major infrastructure projects failing to meet required quality standards. Instances of newly constructed buildings collapsing shortly after completion due to weaknesses and lack of proper quality have been likened to tofu-dreg construction. On April 29, 2022, a commercial building in Changsha city, Hunan province, collapsed, housing apartments, a hotel, and a cinema. The incident resulted from the use of counterfeit materials and hollowing out buildings, a common practice in China that creates tofu buildings. The collapse led to significant pain and loss, with 53 fatalities and dozens seriously injured. The incident left a large void in the Changsha streetscape, littered with shattered concrete beams. Chinese state media reported that numerous individuals were rescued from the rubble with severe injuries, and some remained buried for almost six days. During a briefing, local official Wu Guiying offered apologies, expressing extreme suffering, indescribable self-blame, and extending sincere apologies to the people affected by the tragedy. In 2009, Shanghai authorities temporarily detained nine individuals linked to the incident involving a 13-story building in the Lotus Riverside complex in the Minhang district of Shanghai. The collapse resulted in the death of one construction worker. Despite ongoing investigations, the issue of poor construction quality remains a possibility. On June 28, Shanghai's local newspaper reported that over 400 residents in other buildings within the Lotus Riverside complex surrounded the main office of the primary developer, My Home Real Estate Company. They demanded refunds for their apartment payments due to safety concerns. We dare not live in our homes anymore. We demand that the investors refund our money and compensate us for the fallen property prices so we can buy somewhere else. An investigative team comprising construction experts from the Minhang district was immediately formed after the accident. Preliminary findings suggested that the building collapsed like a tofu dreg construction due to a massive pile of earth beneath the building shifting during the construction of the underground parking garage. This shift caused structural damage to the entire building. Surprisingly, the investigation revealed that My Home Real Estate Company had been operating illegally for over four years. Despite this, the company was the developer of two other buildings in the Minhang district, both almost completely sold out. The issue of poor construction quality, often resulting from cost-cutting measures such as the use of subpar materials and dishonest practices, has surfaced alongside rapid economic development and the need for infrastructure to keep up with the pace. China has long been concerned about instances of tofu dreg construction, referring to shoddy, low-quality construction projects failing to meet standards. These projects extend beyond housing to other critical public infrastructure. In 1999, the sudden collapse of a bridge in Chongqing claimed over 40 lives. The bridge, constructed in less than three years, was found to have been built using low-quality materials. The pressing concern among Chinese citizens today, as reported by the Guangzhou-based news outlet, is how many other tofu dreg construction projects have yet to be uncovered. Tofu dreg construction, stemming from speedy, shoddy work, often uses cheap and quick materials, primarily concrete. The rushed construction and use of substandard concrete lead to poor building infrastructure, exacerbating issues during natural disasters, as seen in the Wenchuan earthquake. Concrete production contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. China has been a leader in cement concrete production, producing more cement in a two-year period from 1980 to 2011 than the U.S. did throughout the 20th century. All of this cement production has led to vast emissions of greenhouse gases. China's contribution to GHGs from cement alone rivaled total GHG emissions of some countries. China is using a lot of cement and is using it quickly, causing tofu construction of buildings. Tofu construction only leads to more construction, as after the Sichuan earthquake, China finished close to 29,692 projects to rebuild areas affected by the earthquake. Even without natural disasters, Chinese constructions have still failed. One Australian reporter counted four collapsed bridges in just nine days in July 2012. Chinese officials acknowledge these issues as well, giving life expectancies of buildings, and even warning of future collapses of buildings as they age and reach certain lifespans. Even in reconstruction efforts, tofu dreg construction remains prevalent. Sources from the post-earthquake county of Yongcheng cite having moved into buildings already having cracks within walls of their newly built apartments. Yet construction continues in China, as in the span of 2011-2014, it was predicted that China would have a new skyscraper constructed every five days. Construction contributes to about 40% of the world's GHG emissions. Most of these emissions come from materials used, like concrete, tofu dregs, signature building material, and other materials. Tofu buildings are buildings which are so structurally unsound that are compared to jiggling blocks of soft tofu, which will crumble at the slightest provocation. The term originates in China, where a construction boom in the late 1990s and early 2000s led to a proliferation of such structures. The numerous issues with tofu buildings were brought to the forefront in 2008, when a devastating earthquake in Sichuan province killed tens of thousands of From the outside, tofu buildings look perfectly safe, especially to the casual eye. They have all of the components one would expect to see in a building, and often the inside is finished in such a way that it looks secure as well. The superstructure and foundation of this type of building is not sound, and this can lead to serious problems in earthquakes, floods, and fires, as the unstable building may collapse or be badly damaged. Corruption at every stage complicates the small profit margins on projects, as they were without people sticking their hand out to begin with. And this corruption can manifest in ways you weren't expecting, or via contracted firms you weren't expecting it from. So instead of workers spending, say, 20 days building a tower floor, they spend five days. Running low on cement? Use bottles to pad out the total mix. Your contract for better quality steel rebar has gone belly up and absconded with the money you spent on them? China's alarming tofu dreg construction, building speed is terrible. Under the CCP's regime, substandard construction practices, known as tofu dreg, are widespread in China. This term describes buildings constructed with poor workmanship, resulting in low quality or even total structural failure. Online footage captured a piece of marble falling from a building in Tianjin. Fortunately, there were no injuries. In the Chinese real estate market, most houses, particularly those built after 2015, are of poor quality. Many citizens have paid exorbitant prices for substandard homes. The notion of these houses lasting 70 years is almost laughable, it would be astonishing if they endured that long. In reality, significant renovations will likely be necessary after just 30 years, and some issues may be irreparable. This grim outlook is well-founded. China's infrastructure, in general, suffers from poor quality. A devastating house collapse in Wenzhou resulted in the tragic deaths of four people, with some desperately fleeing as the structure crumbled. In Jianghai District, Jiangmen, Guangdong, a house near a bustling market also collapsed, adding to the region's alarming trend of structural failures. In Tianjin, a gas explosion led to the collapse of a building within a community. The extent of the destruction from a single gas explosion raises serious concerns about the construction quality and safety of these homes. Since the turn of the millennium, the skyrocketing real estate prices have turned the market into a hotbed for exorbitant profits. Unfortunately, the lengthy construction timelines of two to three years have magnified the industry's flaws, making it challenging to maintain quality control in the rush to attract buyers. Eager property owners, lured by the promise of quick deeds, often compromise on standards and end up with subpar units. As prices soared to unprecedented heights, developers began prioritizing profit margins over construction standards. Exploiting market dynamics, these profit-driven entities deliberately ignored defects, confident that flaws would go unnoticed during resales. This unscrupulous approach left unsuspecting buyers at the mercy of developers who knew that dissatisfied customers had little leverage, especially when issues seemed minor. The real estate landscape thus became rife with compromised integrity, with buyers navigating a perilous terrain where their concerns were systematically disregarded. In China, collapsing buildings are unfortunately not uncommon. For instance, the slope protection of Yixing community in Sichuan collapsed, causing severe damage to the building. The quality of China's buildings and infrastructure is so poor that even rain can lead to collapses, highlighting the dire state of construction standards in the country. On May 27, 2024, one unit of a building in a neighborhood in Anhui Province collapsed, killing at least four people. One nessan stated, the quality of the building won't last long enough to finish the mortgage. Another lamented, this one collapsed today and the other will collapse tomorrow. I've spent nearly all of my life savings to buy a home under the CCP's rule. People spend so much money on homes, but the quality is so poor. Dramatic online footage reveals the collapse of a building in Anhui Province, where the top floor balcony of a house suddenly crumbled, releasing a cloud of smoke. This incident occurred on the evening of June 11, 2024, following a heavy downpour. The exterior wall of a 30-story building fell off, damaging vehicles parked on the street below. The fact that only rain caused such damage raises serious concerns about the building's construction quality. On May 29, 2024, a user commented on X, describing these incidents as Tofu Dreg Project's terms used for corruption-driven constructions under criminal syndicates, which are premeditated and executed without fear of repercussions. A nessan posted a video showing a man on a rooftop, capturing the moment when the external wall of a building detached, clearly showcasing the poor construction quality. Back in February 2021, a neighborhood under construction in Beijing faced similar issues, including leaking roofs and cracked walls. The cement on the walls was so weak that it could be crushed by hand. A video showed a resident, suspecting poor quality, using a tool resembling a screwdriver to dig through the roof. Shockingly it turned out there was no cement, only dirt. These incidents highlight the rampant issues of substandard construction practices and corruption, raising alarms about the safety and durability of buildings in China. A citizen recorded an incident where a building's surface was blown off by the wind and crashed directly onto the sidewalk. On November 23, 2023, a residential building in Anhui Province suddenly lost its exterior wall. The veneer fell to the ground, causing pedestrians to scream in fear. The local neighborhood committee casually stated that the property management company had been informed. On the afternoon of April 27, 2024, another residential building developed a large crack from top to bottom, causing one side to tilt. Witnesses reported that the crack started at 10 cm and quickly expanded to a meter, accompanied by a strong smell of gas. The footage reveals the sound of the building cracking and pieces of the staircase falling. People screamed in terror, with one person asking, Is it collapsing? The scene was chaotic, and someone urgently shouted, Get out! The following day, the local government issued a report on the incident, confirming that the building was cracked and tilted. They described the entire structure as dangerously tilted but mentioned that residents had been evacuated and resettled more than half a year ago, in August 2022. The cracked building was vacant and slated for demolition. Mainland Chinese media personality, teacher Wang Daili, questioned why the building wasn't reinforced or demolished earlier, given its known danger. Leaving it standing is like leaving a ticking bomb, he argued. Even though the building is empty, adjacent buildings are still occupied, putting other residents at risk. The cracks are rapidly growing, indicating that the building continues to tilt. If it collapses, the consequences will be dire. Due to ongoing complaints from the building's owners about its poor quality, local officials decided to inspect the situation. However, during their visit, they found themselves trapped in the elevator, sparking fear and embarrassment. Residents exclaimed, Heaven knows as the officials were stranded. Homeowners on site sarcastically asked, Are you scared? The elevator stopped. Can you get out? Others added, Don't move. Some even suggested, Maybe there's nothing wrong with it. It's fine. One remarked, Thank goodness the divine is looking after us, implying the officials finally experienced the building's notorious problems firsthand. In another alarming video, homeowners tested the quality of their new homes. One person easily removed two door frames by hand, revealing they were made of styrofoam. A woman commented that the frames weren't as sturdy as Lego. Towards the end of the video, a man stomped on the floor, causing it to shift. The question arose who would dare to live in such a place? How long can such substandard buildings last? The prevalence of tofu dreg construction in China is both widespread and deeply concerning. Over a decade ago, the Shishan earthquake brought this issue to light. On May 12, 2008, at 2.28 pm, a devastating 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck Wuchan County in Shishan Province. According to China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, 69,420 people lost their lives. However, the Bashu Alliance, a Chinese civil organization, estimated the actual death toll to be around 300,000, including over 30,000 students, many of whom were young children in kindergarten. The local school buildings were suspected to be tofu dreg projects. Despite Premier Mr. W.G. Ba's demand for a thorough investigation into these substandard constructions, no significant action has been taken. Let's revisit the tragic events of the earthquake. Footage shows students frantically running down the stairs, attempting to escape, as the school building collapsed in an instant. The devastation was immediate and heartbreaking. At the time, mainland Chinese media reported that the cement in the rubble was so loose that people could break the pre-made concrete slabs into any shape, almost like cookies. The rebar was equally weak, with some slabs containing only three tiny bars that could be broken with minimal force. On May 12, 2024, more than 100 parents who had lost their children in the earthquake went to the site to mourn, but local police blocked their entry. The CCP authorities have continually denied responsibility for the tofu dreg construction, linked to the disaster. No cemetery has been established for the children who perished, and for years, parents have been prevented from visiting the site to mourn. One parent mentioned that after the earthquake, the CCP encouraged bereaved parents to have another child, promising to cover the education and medical expenses for the second child, as well as the parents' medical expenses. Sixteen years later, these promises remain unfulfilled. The real-life footage of the WN earthquake is deeply shocking, and the collapse of tofu dreg buildings across China is alarming. On June 8, 2024, a user on Xplatform posted a screenshot of a conversation between a professional and a friend about the issue of China's tofu dreg buildings. The friend asked, Why do Chinese homes have a property right of 70 years, but an actual service life of less than 50 years? The professional explained that cement takes at least 28 days to reach 80% strength. However, in China, floors are built in just seven days, disturbing the cement before it sets and creating tiny cracks. This weakens the bond between the cement and the reinforcement, making it difficult to check because the flaws are internal. The normal construction process should allow 15 days for drying and 28 days after pouring the concrete, meaning it takes 43 days to build a floor. Consequently, constructing a 30-story building should take at least 48 to 60 months, or about 4 to 5 years. However, in reality, buildings in China are often completed in less than two years, leading to what are known as rotten-tailed buildings. Expecting these buildings to last 70 to 100 years is unrealistic and highlights the severe construction issues in These revelations underscore the catastrophic potential of poor construction practices in China, suggesting that in 50 years, high-rise ruins could litter the landscape. This commentary, posted in Radio Free Asia under the title China Specialty The Endless Tofu Dreg Projects, delves into the shady secrets and interests behind these projects. Blogger Le Chang Pang noted that asking for the truth is futile, because everyone already knows The government's bizarre lies cover up the reality, much like with the tofu dreg school buildings in the W N earthquake. Every new project births billionaires, while completed projects leave a trail of exploited workers. The era's legacy is not truth but the creative ways the truth is concealed. The dire consequences of poor construction in China are beyond alarming. In 50 years the country could be littered with the ruins of high-rise buildings. This thought alone is chilling. A commentary in Radio Free Asia, titled China Specialty The Endless Tofu Dreg Projects, questions how many shady secrets and interests are hidden in these tofu dreg projects. Blogger Le Chang Pang insightfully noted, everyone knows the truth, but the more you know, the more the government will bury it under bizarre lies. Just like with the tofu dreg school buildings and the W N earthquake, the truth and the lives of thousands of children are forever buried in the rubble he went on to say. Every new project births more billionaires, and every completed project leaves behind a legacy of exploited workers. The era's greatest legacy isn't the truth, but the creativity in hiding it. They tell the lies, and the people turn them into folklore. Chinese commentator Yan Don added, the Chinese communist government has always targeted democratic systems, restricted freedom, and tarnished traditional values. Their claims of putting people first are hollow. They only seek power and profit. CCP officials, driven by greed, can exploit national tragedies without hesitation. China's justice system, overseen by the executive authorities, shields minor officials with the protection of their superiors, making them unaccountable to the people. With power backing them, they exploit citizens without remorse. Many believe jerry-building is why state projects have degraded into tofu dregs. In ancient China, despite corrupt officials, the imperial family and government left behind grand architecture that lasted centuries. In stark contrast, the CCP's reign has spawned unparalleled corruption, fostering a culture where poor construction like tofu dreg projects flourishes. These insights paint a stark picture of the systemic corruption and its catastrophic impact on construction quality in China.