Millions at Risk: China’s Fragile High-Rises Sway and Crack Under Simple Storm Winds

"Millions at Risk: China’s Fragile High-Rises Sway and Crack Under Simple Storm Winds
In recent weeks, Chinese social media has exploded with two shocking storylines. Overseas, large numbers of Chinese travelers report being denied entry in so-called “visa-free” countries, including airports in Singapore and Malaysia. Many were ordered to return home immediately, while others were held for hours of questioning. The incidents have fueled growing anxiety: is the Chinese passport quietly becoming a “high-risk document” in the eyes of the world?

At the same time, inside China, a relatively mild typhoon has exposed the deep structural weaknesses of thousands of “tofu-dregs buildings.” Concrete peeled off in sheets, walls cracked open, and entire sections of buildings crumbled like biscuits. The scenes sparked nationwide outrage and raised serious questions about corruption, substandard materials, and the long-term safety of millions of residents living in these fragile high-rises."