Ominous Sign? China's Largest Indoor Clay Seated Buddha Engulfed In Flames

Bemoaning the business depression in Shanghai, China's online article was deleted after it went viral. Beijing's desperation exposed, urgent pleas with 31 measures to restore confidence, private enterprises say, only a fool would believe. Ominous sign? Catastrophic fire strikes Gans' Shandan Grand Buddha statue. India flatly refuses $1 billion BYD investment. China sends large quantity of toxic gas packages to South Korea, triggering a wave of protests from Korea. It's all covered in today's China Truths. Bemoaning the business depression in Shanghai, China's online article was deleted after it went viral. A web article reflecting the current economic downturn in Shanghai recently went viral on the Chinese internet, resonating with numerous netizens. However, it was subsequently deleted by internet regulators. Some Chinese netizens saved the original text and shared screenshots of it on various social media platforms, both within and outside China. Once a thriving metropolis, Shanghai now exists only as faded memories, evoking deep emotions among overseas Chinese netizens. The title of this popular article is We Feel Sad Seeing Shanghai Like This. It was originally published by the self-media outlet Echo Chamber on July 22. According to the screenshots shared by netizens, the author mainly described the current desolate scenes in some once-prosperous areas of Shanghai, which they personally witnessed. The article began by bluntly stating, I know it's unpleasant to hear, but I still want to say, seeing Shanghai's current state, my heart feels inexplicably sad. The author expressed deep sighs of emotion after witnessing the current situation of places like Shanghai Hongqiao Station and Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, which used to be lively and bustling in the past. When walking on what was once the bustling Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, one now sees the entrance of a large Plaza 66 deserted and cold, claiming it's undergoing upgrading and renovation. Only the top few floors are open for business, but there are hardly any visitors. When the author tried to go to a restaurant on the 6th floor, they found that the escalator leading to the 2nd floor was closed. As they continued upward, the escalators from the 4th floor and above were also shut down, leaving them with no choice but to walk up the stairs. The author questioned, is there not even enough money to operate the elevators? What struck the author the most was the current state of the famous Stormeters Banwei on Nanjing Road with its tightly closed doors, exposed iron frames, and a few large characters that hadn't been cleaned properly still faintly visible. The wires of the door lights were hanging in an unsightly manner. The author described this scene as like a huge band-aid stuck on the pedestrian street and questioned, in such a valuable piece of land, shouldn't there be a large number of companies eager to come in? If Nanjing Road is like this, how about other places? The author mentioned that they had previously heard from online videos that most of the underground passage shops in Shanghai Railway Station had closed down, suspecting it was just a rumor. However, they decided to go to Shanghai Railway Station to see the situation with their own eyes when seeing off a friend. The result confirmed what was said was indeed true. All the shops that used to sell stationary, clothing, phone cards, and mobile accessories had shut down. The author couldn't help but wonder about the heartbreaking stories of how many small bosses are behind each closed roller shutter. The article pointed out that the three aforementioned places in Shanghai represent different types of businesses. Shanghai Railway Station gathers shops run by individual proprietors, while Hongqiao Station was once a place where medium-sized enterprises concentrated their stores. In contrast, Nanjing Road used to have many large companies and big shopping malls. However, now, both small businesses and large enterprises are facing closures, adjustments, and running away. The author wrote, Is this the epitome of Shanghai's decline? Shanghai is supposed to have the best business atmosphere in China. The article's author also attached several photos they had taken of some well-known shops that had closed down. The article further points out, Shanghai is running out of money, and it's not just Shanghai residents who are having a hard time. Looking back a year ago, left-wing internet celebrities like Sima Nan, a Chinese television pundit who staunchly supports the Chinese Communist Party, called on their supporters during the lockdown period to criticize and attack Shanghai. They questioned, If history could repeat itself, would these people still be willing to sacrifice their Finally, the author laments, We feel sad seeing Shanghai like this, as she could have escaped this calamity. After going viral on the internet, this article has resonated with many Chinese netizens, who left comments sharing similar observations and emotions in other regions. Some netizens suggested visiting the neighborhoods where out-of-town workers reside in Shanghai, saying, It's even more desolate there. Others, mainly from other regions, mentioned that cities like Chengdu, Wuhan, and Shenzhen have even more desolate conditions than Shanghai. One netizen analyzed, There are fewer foreigners, so businesses targeting foreigners are indeed suffering, and without transformation, they can only close. Another netizen sarcastically commented, Sticking to our original aspiration and achieving common prosperity, it's nothing special even if we have to eat bark and roots. There were also comments like, From Shanghai to Suzhou, to Wuxi, it's all the same. The bars on Wuxi County's Qianjia Street, the small commodity street next to Suzhou's chilly Shantang Street, and the Olympic Sports Center in Changzhou have been empty and somewhat run down for years. On overseas social media platforms, numerous overseas Chinese netizens also expressed deep emotions in response to related news, and it's not surprising that this article was Beijing's desperation exposed, urgent pleas with 31 measures to restore confidence, private enterprises say, only a fool would believe. According to the New York Times, amid China's current economy is losing momentum and facing the gloomiest prospects in decades, the Chinese leaders understand the meaning of the words spoken by former Premier Wen Jiabao during the 2008 financial crisis, in the face of Therefore, on July 19, they released their opinions on promoting the development and growth of private enterprises, which consists of 8 major sections and a total of 31 articles. It is generally believed that this move is tantamount to admitting that the Chinese Communist Party, CCP's suppression of private enterprises, stifling innovation, and promoting state-owned enterprises have ended in a disastrous failure after three years. The New York Times interviewed other entrepreneurs who privately scoff at the CCP's inspiring words, saying that only a fool would believe. One tech entrepreneur stated that investors are aware of how desperate the CCP is, and these opinions hold no meaning. The core issue of confidence lies in the government's credibility, which the party has almost completely lost in the past few years. He mentioned that if the government truly wants to turn the situation around, it should start by apologizing for its mistakes, like the acknowledgment of some errors committed during the cultural revolution in the past. Some entrepreneurs also pointed out that exonerating persecuted officials and intellectuals would be a way to admit their mistakes. If the authorities are unwilling to apologize, another entrepreneur suggested that the government should return fines imposed on private enterprises as a way to punish them for not obeying the Chinese Communist Party, which would also help local governments facing financial difficulties gain more revenue. However, the report stated that none of the interviewed private entrepreneurs believed that the government would take any of the above actions. Due to fears of punishment from the authorities, they all requested to remain anonymous. In the 1990s, in the first decade of this century, the CCP believed that it needed a vibrant economy to restore its legitimacy lost during the cultural revolution and the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. According to Xi Jinping himself in 2018, the private sector contributed over 50% of the country's tax revenue, more than 60% of economic output, and provided over 80% of urban employment. However, the CCP has always been vigilant about entrepreneurs' wealth, influence, and organizational capabilities. In the past few years, it heavily punished the largest private enterprises in the country, using arbitrary regulatory measures to dismantle entire industries. It refused to make concessions on the zero-COVID policy during the COVID-19 pandemic when many businesses were struggling. With Xi Jinping gaining absolute power in the 20th Party Congress, the trend in China's economy leans towards state advances, private retreats. However, in December of last year, after abruptly ending the zero-COVID policy, the Beijing authorities seemed to realize that reviving the economy requires the help of private enterprises. The private economy was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and deteriorating relations with major trading partners. Economic recovery did not meet expectations, leading to a collapse in confidence among businesses and consumers. The report quoted an article by Sun Liping, a sociology professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing, published last month. He asked why many people were cutting back on consumption and why some entrepreneurs who originally wanted to take action were reluctant to make long-term plans and investments. The reason, he said, was that they lacked peace of mind. He emphasized that to break free from the state of economic weakness, the government needs to create a reassuring business environment. He pointed out that what private enterprises urgently need is not special policy support, but an impartial institutional environment. Ominous Sign? Catastrophic Fire Strikes Gansu's Shandong Grand Buddha Statue According to reports from the paper, on July 24, in the early hours of the morning, a fire broke out at the Shandong Grand Buddha Monastery, a national 4A-level tourist attraction located in Shandong County, Xiangye, Gansu. The towering statue of the Grand Buddha was engulfed in flames. On July 24, a video circulated online showing the surroundings of the Grand Buddha statue engulfed in flames during the night. The fierce blaze spread rapidly, consuming the main buildings within the temple premises. After the fire, the temple was reduced to ruins. According to personnel on the scene, by around 10 o'clock on the morning of the 24th, the flames were mostly extinguished, with no reports of casualties. According to public records, the Grand Buddha Monastery, situated at the foot of Liego Mountain, 5 km west of Shandong County, Xiangye, was originally built during the Northern Wei Dynasty around 425 AD and has a history of more than 1,500 years. It has suffered damage several times in history but was reconstructed during the Ming Dynasty. The current seated clay Buddha statue was carved from the mountain and measures 13 zhang, about 24 meters, in height. The ancient monastery was also destroyed during the Cultural Revolution but was later rebuilt in 1992 with funds from Hong Kong Buddhist followers. A netizen from Jiangsu posted, expressing astonishment over the inexplicable fire that occurred at the Shandong Grand Buddha Monastery. This temple is renowned for housing the 35-meter tall seated statue of Shakyamuni, known as the largest indoor clay seated Buddha in the country. Statues like the Buddha are typically made of non-flammable materials such as stone or metal, making the blazing flames on the stone statue perplexing to people. A netizen who seemed to be familiar with the situation on netis commented, I've been there once, and it was chaotic with people selling incense at stalls. Even the large incense hall for burning incense had no protection. The winds here are already strong, and with so much incense burning, it's very unsafe. In recent years, numerous temples in China have experienced fires, resulting in the destruction of cultural relics and ancient architecture. Concerning the latest fire incident at the Shandong Grand Buddha Monastery in Jiangsu, there were also comments expressing ominous signs, an ominous sign. Every time we visit the Heshi Corridor, there's one less sight to see. There are too many earthly fires, even the Buddha is suffering. The Buddha is angry. The Buddha can't bear to see this either. Twitter users added, Chinese Buddhism is actually a money-making organization, and believers are deceived for how much money they have. India flatly refuses $1 billion bid investment Chinese electric vehicle leader BYD recently proposed a $1 billion investment plan to the Indian government, aiming to partner with a local company to establish a factory for producing electric vehicles and batteries. However, according to the Economic Times of India, the Indian government has rejected BYD's investment proposal citing security concerns. On July 24, Bloomberg News also quoted insiders' revelations stating that the India's refusal is a lack of trust in the use of Chinese technology. It is worth noting that investment in India's automotive industry usually does not require government approval. However, investment plans from neighboring countries are subject to security reviews by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Currently, BYD is Tesla's strongest competitor in the Chinese market and is also one of China's largest manufacturers of large batteries. In recent years, BYD has been actively seeking opportunities to expand internationally. In January of this year, Sanjay Gopalakrishnan, senior vice president of BYD India, stated during the 2023 India Auto Expo that BYD hopes to capture 40% of India's electric vehicle market by 2030. Clearly, the decision-makers at BYD greatly underestimated the high level of vigilance that the Indian government holds towards made-in-China products. It is worth mentioning that as early as 2022, Tesla CEO Elon Musk attempted to sell Tesla electric vehicles manufactured in China to India. However, the Indian government explicitly stated that Tesla could establish a factory in India to produce cars but India does not need Chinese-made electric vehicles. As a result, discussions on this matter were shelved. In late June of this year, Indian Prime Minister Modi met with Elon Musk during his visit to the United States. After the meeting, Musk told the media that their discussion was fantastic and praised India's strong potential in the field of sustainable energy, including solar energy, fixed battery packs, and electric vehicles. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs also mentioned that Modi had invited Tesla to invest in electric vehicles and space exploration. Just this month, multiple foreign media outlets reported that Tesla has begun negotiations with India about investing in building a car factory there. The planned Tesla factory in India could have an annual production capacity of up to 500,000 vehicles. Many believe that Musk may be interested not only in India's new energy vehicle market but also in its potential in the field of sustainable energy. He may be considering introducing SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service to India. According to reports, in 2022, India's new car sales volume surpassed Japan, making it the world's third-largest market for the first time. However, the market share of electric vehicles in India is still less than 1%. As a result, the Indian government has set a target for electric vehicle sales to account for 30% of total sales by 2030. Some Taiwan media outlets jokingly remarked in their reports that China's dream of conquering the world through electric vehicles and lithium batteries has hit a roadblock in India. China sends large quantity of toxic gas packages to South Korea, triggering a wave of protests from Korea. On July 20, a disabled welfare facility in Ulsan, South Korea, received a toxic gas package sent from Taiwan. After opening the package, three staff members experienced symptoms such as dizziness and difficulty breathing and were sent to the hospital for treatment. This incident has garnered attention from South Korean society. As a result, both the South Korean police and the military were mobilized, and a comprehensive inspection was conducted at the Central Post Office Building in Mayang-dong, Seoul, leading to the evacuation of about 1,700 people. On July 24, the South Korean Police Department stated that from July 20 until 5 a.m. that day, they had received a total of 2,141 reports of suspicious international packages. The police confiscated 679 packages related to the case, while the remaining 1,462 were false alarms. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Taiwan has confirmed that these suspicious mail items were sent from mainland China and arrived in Taiwan via goods transshipment. They were then airmailed by Taiwan's Chunghwa Post to South Korea without entering Taiwan. Notably, Lin Chun-ji, a researcher at the International Criminal Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Bureau in Taiwan, pointed out that this batch of problematic packages, totaling 2,507 pieces, all came from the same sender. Moreover, they are from the same sender who sent mysterious seeds and soil to Canada through Taiwan for transshipment three years ago. Taiwan's Chunghwa Post has announced the temporary suspension of delivering transshipped postal items to South Korea until the investigation results are available. The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged a protest with China and demanded a prompt investigation into these suspicious international packages, along with an explanation. The Chinese side responded that they would cooperate to the maximum extent possible with the South Korean request. 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