On this day, 24 July 2009, 3,000 steel workers in Tonghua, China rioted and beat an executive to death when threatened with privatization and job losses.

Jianlong Steel Holding Company official Chen Guojun, who earned over 3 million yuan the previous year, planned to take over the majority state-owned Tonghua Iron and Steel Group. He announced plans to cut the number of workers from 30,000 down to around 5,000, with those made redundant receiving around 200 yuan in compensation. The firm was still profitable, but the planned restructuring was aimed at increasing profits further amidst a global economic downturn.

Outraged, the workers shut down production and rioted, beating Chen, blocking roads and smashing police cars to prevent police and ambulances from reaching him.

The sale was subsequently scrapped.

On this day, 24 July 2009, 3,000 steel workers in Tonghua, China rioted and beat an executive to death when threatened with privatisation and job losses.

More:

China, rising wages and worker militancy

It’s wrong to say China is heading for socialism, because it never really abandoned it

It’s wrong to say China is heading for socialism, because it never really abandoned it

Ultimately, what is behind the coverage you see in the West is a sense of dismay that China did not take the path they wanted. China was a socialist state, and still is, but refines its policies in pursuit of its national goals where necessary. It understands the difference between dogmatism and pragmatism, and that is why it so frequently succeeds.

WHY THERE HAS BEEN AN OVERWHELMING FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND CPC IN WEST + MORE

WHY THERE HAS BEEN AN OVERWHELMING FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND CPC IN WEST

China has never regarded itself as a model for others. It has long recognized that its history, culture and sheer size make it unique. China has never required or expected other countries to be like it. The CPC has never thought its political system should be regarded as a template for others, unlike in the case of the US, UK and the former Soviet Union. China’s rise will not change that. In the longer term we should expect a different tendency: As China becomes increasingly important and influential as an exemplar, other countries will inevitably seek to learn from its achievements, be it, for example, economic policy, dealing with pandemics, technological innovation, governmental competence or climate change.

More:

HOW THE CPC SEIZES MODERNITY

‘CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS’ GROW WITH THE WORLD

WHAT HAS BROUGHT ABOUT CHINA’S DEVELOPMENT MIRACLE?