China Cracks Down on Mass Murders with Swift and Harsh Punishments

China Cracks Down on Mass Murders with Swift and Harsh Punishments

China's top prosecutors have pledged to swiftly and harshly punish individuals who commit mass murders in retaliation against society. This commitment was highlighted by the recent execution of two men convicted in separate deadly attacks that occurred in November 2023.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) emphasized its dedication to combating serious violent crimes, including intentional homicides, robberies, and kidnappings, to maintain social stability. Miao Shengming, deputy procurator general of the SPP, stated that authorities prioritize severe punishments for individuals who cause multiple deaths, especially those who commit "major, malicious, and extreme crimes" intended to endanger public safety.

a car-ramming attack in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, that left 35 people dead and 43 injured on November 11, and a mass stabbing in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, in which eight were killed and 17 were injured on November 16.

In the Zhuhai case, Fan Weiqiu, 62, drove a small SUV through a barrier at a sports center, striking people exercising at the venue. Investigators determined that Fan was dissatisfied with the division of financial assets in his divorce and took out his personal anger on society.

In the Wuxi case, Xu Jiajin, 21, was angry over failing his exams and being denied graduation from the Wuxi Vocational Institute of Arts and Technology. Dissatisfied with his internship pay, he carried out the stabbing attack.

Prosecutors were deployed to oversee both cases, ensuring expedited legal proceedings. Both men were convicted of intentional homicide and executed in January 2024.

The SPP has established a mechanism to analyze such cases and identify underlying causes. Close cooperation with courts and public security authorities ensures rapid investigations, arrests, prosecutions, and trials.

From January to November 2024, Chinese procuratorial authorities approved the arrests of 669,000 people and initiated public prosecutions against more than 1.46 million. The proportion of severe violent crimes prosecuted has fallen from 7 percent from the same period a decade ago to 3.7 percent.

"People's sense of gain, happiness, and security have been continuously enhanced. And China has been proven to be one of the safest countries in the world," Miao said.