The day after the car-ramming incident at the Sports Center in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, a family member of one of the victims reported that when they signed an A4 sheet of paper to claim the body, they saw that the paper was almost completely filled with signatures, indicating that many people had died. (Video screenshot)
People News - The Chinese government is investigating the vehicle attack incident in Zhuhai, where a driver drove into a crowd, resulting in at least 35 deaths and 43 injuries. Two days after the incident, large groups of people arrived to mourn the victims, prompting increased police presence at the scene. The authorities stated that the suspect acted out of dissatisfaction with property distribution but is currently in a coma due to self-inflicted injuries. This official explanation, however, has raised doubts, with some believing the government may be concealing the actual number of casualties.
According to Voice of America, on November 13, two days after the tragedy, Zhuhai’s Xiangzhou District Sports Center remained closed to the public, though bloodstains on the ground had been cleaned. Police officers and plainclothes personnel were observed patrolling near the west gate of the sports center, with SWAT vehicles on standby. Since the evening of the 12th, citizens had been visiting the site to lay flowers and pray, while some even sent flowers via delivery services. Though police did not prevent the public from leaving flowers, plainclothes officers quickly removed them. Plainclothes officers also obstructed media access with umbrellas to block footage.
Additionally, notices within certain Zhuhai residential areas announced a suspension of all group activities, including plaza dancing, until further notice.
Public Skepticism of Suspect’s Motive
The incident occurred on the evening of November 11. According to Zhuhai police, the 62-year-old driver, surnamed Fan, allegedly drove his SUV into the sports center out of frustration with his divorce-related property settlement, targeting citizens who were exercising. He then fled the scene and self-harmed in the vehicle, sustaining severe neck injuries, and was detained on charges of endangering public safety.
The authorities released casualty details a day after the incident, reporting 35 deaths and 43 injuries, with the injured distributed among five local hospitals. Guangdong province has deployed hundreds of rescue workers and over 30 experts to support Zhuhai.
Public skepticism arose over the delay in casualty reporting and the potential understatement of numbers. Additionally, critics questioned how the authorities determined that the motive was related to the divorce, given that the suspect had divorced in 2010, yet waited 14 years to act on this frustration.
Netizens questioned why the official death toll in major accidents in China often seems to settle at 35.
Huang Yongxiang from Guangzhou told Voice of America that he and his friends believe that China’s economic downturn has exacerbated social issues, possibly pushing the suspect to the breaking point. He added that information and videos about the incident were quickly censored online.
“There could be various pressures—economic troubles, life stress, and general injustices—that used to affect specific groups but now impact ordinary people as well. It’s a form of retaliation, perhaps. Though there’s some online coverage of this incident, it’s impossible to know the truth. Without independent media to report on the suspect, his family, and his mental state, how can we know the truth?” he said.
Some netizens noted that searching for “Zhuhai” on Chinese social media platforms mainly yields results related to the Zhuhai Air Show, which began on November 12. Topics related to the “Zhuhai Sports Center” have been blocked across multiple platforms.
Due to limited transparency, many speculations attribute the suspect’s motive solely to China’s current economic environment. However, Chinese political scientist Chen Daoyin argues that it’s premature to conclude without a complete investigation.
Chen stated, “There’s no single factor that can explain this. He acted in a moment of desperation, which is hard to explain. The U.S., which is economically developed and a model of law and order, also experiences retaliatory shootings. While economic decline could contribute to retaliatory events in China, America’s economy is strong, yet similar events occur. This is a modern social illness expressed differently in each society. Each incident should be analyzed individually and categorized to create a guiding framework.”
Authorities Implement Stability Measures
Netizens report that Zhuhai authorities have initiated “stability” measures, including public opinion guidance in online communities.
Chen Daoyin noted that Xi Jinping’s rare personal directive on the matter relates to the social and international impact of the tragedy.
“This incident qualifies as a major security accident under China’s classification. The timing, right before the Zhuhai Air Show, was strategically chosen. The event brings many international visitors to Zhuhai, which intensified the scrutiny on local security,” he said.
Given the recent spate of malicious incidents in China, some foreign nationals have been affected. On November 12, Japan’s Consulate in Guangzhou issued a warning, advising its nationals in China to respect local customs, remain aware of their surroundings, avoid going out alone at night, and even exercise caution during the day by refraining from speaking loudly in Japanese and avoiding crowded places like plazas.
The Zhuhai incident has also reignited discussion around the so-called “Five Losses”—those who have lost investments, business, relationships, psychological balance, or mental health—among China’s marginalized populations.
Renewed Focus on Socially Disadvantaged “Lost” Groups
China’s labor class is often viewed as part of this “Five Losses” group. Analysts suggest that many Chinese workers are struggling with unemployment and are at a disadvantage when defending their rights, making them prominent participants in retaliatory violence against society.
Li Qiang, founder of the international organization China Labor Watch, told Voice of America that the recent surge in violent incidents reflects a lack of faith and weak family ties, especially among marginalized groups.
He said, “The working class, the average worker—many are separated from their spouses, seeing each other only a few times a year. Family ties are broken. The husband or wife isn’t around. Secondly, religion. In China, religion is ‘Party-affiliated.’ The clergy are all Party-affiliated. How can you believe in Jesus or God under such conditions? The Communist Party has undermined religion. Religion promotes kindness and doing one’s best. The Party’s policies have destroyed it, leaving the disadvantaged with no spiritual faith.”
Li added that Chinese people must learn to manage their stress through proper channels. He cited the U.S. as an example, where psychological services are widely available and accepted, unlike in China, where many avoid seeking help due to fear of social stigma.
“Everyone has mental issues; people need emotional outlets to return to normal. Psychological counseling can truly relieve stress. Americans tend to face their issues head-on. In the U.S., getting an appointment with a therapist can be difficult because they’re fully booked. In China, would you dare admit you’re seeing a therapist? People would look at you with discrimination,” he said.
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