Homeowners of the luxury residential complex Suhe Bay No. 1 in Shanghai recently protested but were met with suppression. A mainland video host described the event as a "march of 100 billionaires." (Video screenshot)
[November 20, 2024] On November 18, over 100 homeowners of Suhe No. 1 in Shanghai took to the streets to protest and defend their rights due to the unfinished state of their housing project. As a result, they were met with violent suppression by the police.
A video posted on November 18 by the X account "Luo Xiang" shows police using forceful methods to arrest protesting homeowners in Shanghai. In one instance, multiple officers lifted a homeowner into the air despite his struggles and attempts to resist by flailing his arms and legs.
According to reports from independent media, the homeowners were protesting due to repeated delays by the developer in delivering their homes. Frustrated, they gathered to demand refunds. The situation escalated to a point where one commentator remarked, "This is truly embarrassing. Who would have thought such a thing could happen in Shanghai?"
In China, it is common for citizens defending their rights to face arrests by the police, and such incidents are no longer surprising. However, what sets this incident apart is the socioeconomic status of the protesters. Suhe No. 1 is a luxury housing project, with units priced at 120,000–130,000 RMB per square meter and total prices of 20–30 million RMB per unit. Buyers are reportedly worth "at least 100 million RMB" each. In other words, the 100+ protesting homeowners are all billionaires, not ordinary citizens. Yet, even these wealthy individuals were arrested when they protested in the streets.
This incident underscores a harsh reality in China: in the eyes of the Communist Party, both the rich and the poor are treated as "chives" to be harvested. If you protest, disrupt social stability, or fail to comply, you will face suppression, regardless of your wealth. In China, the rights of ordinary citizens are not protected, and the rights of the wealthy are equally vulnerable.
Netizens have commented on the broader implications of the incident: "These wealthy people used to look down on those defending their rights through protests and petitions. It was just that the thorn hadn’t pricked them yet. Now it finally has." "This shows that power will always outweigh money." "The rich without power are just fat, ripe chives—a prime target for the CCP’s harvesting efforts." "This is truly a country ruled by officials. Even with their wealth, they are nothing more than lambs awaiting slaughter." "In the eyes of today's China, the rich without political power are merely prey."
The arrest of Shanghai billionaires protesting to defend their rights is a new signal of the escalating social tensions in China.
In recent years, alongside a significant downturn in China's economy and the real estate debt crisis, the outbreak of unfinished housing projects across the country has led to growing protests from homebuyers. These protests now include not only ordinary citizens but also wealthy individuals, such as the homeowners of Shanghai's Suhe No. 1.
It’s not hard to imagine that if this trend continues, the number of protesting ordinary citizens will increase, and so will the number of wealthy individuals fighting for their rights. As a result, not only will the conflicts between the lower-class citizens and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intensify, but the tensions between the wealthy elite and the CCP will also escalate. Ultimately, this will make it increasingly difficult for the CCP to maintain control.
Editor: Jin Yue
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