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Lunar | China’s focus on gang violence after Tangshan attack does little to protect women
- In the wake of the brutal attack in Tangshan last month, Chinese authorities have focused on organised crime instead of violence against women
- While there have been some small steps in the right direction, the state still refuses to treat gendered violence as a systemic problem
Reading Time:3 minutes
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After CCTV footage of a group of men brutally attacking women in a restaurant in Tangshan went viral last month, all eyes were on China’s authorities, expecting an answer. The video sparked a wave of public anger and discussions about the systemic violence against women in China.
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Many expected that this time, given the extreme violence, irrefutable evidence and viral nature of the footage, something would have to change. But instead, the Supreme Court honed in on gang activity and organised crime.
Although it briefly mentioned women when it condemned “cruel assaults against women, children and the elderly”, the court only told judges to focus on murders, organised crime, robberies and crimes that involved guns or explosives. Frauds and scams targeting the elderly were also highlighted, but violence against women was never specifically mentioned.
It has been more than a month since the attack. Since then, there has been more than enough time for Tangshan – and China as a whole – to take longer-term action to protect women from abuse.
Some changes have been made. Tangshan was stripped of its honorary “civilised” status, given to Chinese cities of “good social order”. Hebei province launched a disciplinary review into Tangshan’s police force, a deputy police chief was fired and night patrols in the city were increased.
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9 arrested over fierce attack on women in Tangshan
9 arrested over fierce attack on women in Tangshan
But none of this tackles violence against women. This is disturbing as crimes against women are endemic across China.
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