China Bolsters Flood Compensation Amid Rising Rainfall and Diversion Efforts

China has broadened its economic protections for individuals impacted by flood control measures, particularly during periods of intense rainfall. This includes promises of direct financial aid from the central government and compensation for the loss of livestock.

A key strategy in China for managing downstream flooding involves diverting floodwaters to areas adjacent to rivers. As extreme rainfall events become more frequent, China is increasingly utilizing these areas. Some of these areas, previously undeveloped, have become populated with farms, agricultural lands, and even residential properties, leading to social unrest.

Revised compensation rules, released recently, stipulate that the central government will now cover 70% of all compensation costs, with local governments responsible for the remaining portion. Previously, the allocation of these costs was determined by the actual economic losses and the financial situation of the local governments.

For the first time, the compensation scheme will also include livestock and poultry that cannot be moved before the arrival of diverted floodwaters. Previously, only the loss of working animals was eligible for compensation.

In the summer of 2023, nearly a million people in Hebei province, located near Beijing, were relocated after record rainfall forced authorities to divert water to populated areas for storage. This action sparked anger over the loss of homes and farms, which were sacrificed to protect the Chinese capital.

China currently has 98 designated flood diversion areas across major river basins, including the Yangtze River basin, which is home to a third of the country's population. During the 2023 Hebei floods, eight flood storage areas were utilized.

Since the beginning of the East Asia monsoon in early June, precipitation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River has been up to twice the normal levels. In other parts of China, daily rainfall recorded by numerous meteorological stations in provinces like Hubei and Guizhou broke records for the month of June.

Guizhou was the focus of China's flood relief efforts this week, with one of its cities experiencing flooding on a scale that meteorologists described as a once-in-50-years event, occurring with a speed that surprised its 300,000 residents.

In response, Beijing announced commitments to relocate vulnerable populations and industries to areas less prone to flooding and to allocate more space for flood diversion.