“Xi’an BYD Workers Go on Strike to Protest Pay Cuts (2026.02.05)”
On February 5, workers at BYD’s high-voltage electrical equipment factory located in the Jixian Industrial Park of the Xi’an High-tech Zone, Shaanxi Province, went on a collective strike to protest cuts to piece-rate bonuses.
According to workers, under BYD’s continued cost-cutting, the piece-rate bonus has been reduced from a previous maximum of 2,400 yuan per month to just 300–600 yuan. As a result, after deductions for social insurance and housing fund contributions, many workers’ monthly take-home pay has fallen to less than 2,000 yuan.
Student “Uprising” Erupts in Dezhou, Shandong: Dorms Trashed, Instructors Flee in Panic (February 1, 2026)
On the night of February 1st, a student “uprising” that sent shockwaves across the internet erupted under the cover of darkness in Dezhou, Shandong Province. That night, inside the Dezhou Huandi Xianglong Quality Education Base, the long-maintained order of oppression was shattered. There were no uniform slogans; instead, the air was filled with the crisp sound of shattering glass and the long-suppressed fury of the youths. Students, who had long endured oppression, broke through the blockade and smashed the dormitory doors and windows that symbolized their imprisonment. Meanwhile, the instructors—who usually brandished batons and lorded over the students—collectively crumbled and fled in panic when faced with genuine resistance.
Public records indicate that the institution involved, “Huandi Xianglong Quality Education Base,” is a subsidiary of Shandong Huandi Jinhui Education Management Co., Ltd. While the institution markets itself as a professional training base focused on youth development issues, it is, in reality, a typical “internet addiction treatment” and behavior correction school. Institutions of this nature have long existed in China, notorious for their militarized, enclosed, and punitive management styles. It is reported that the school houses approximately 200 to 300 students, divided into three sections. The protest erupted in “Section 3,” known for having the harshest management. According to insiders, most of the instructors are retired two-year conscripts who employ extremely harsh management tactics. Some are described as psychologically twisted, and corporal punishment has become the norm. It is common occurrence for students to be beaten with batons or placed in solitary confinement for minor infractions. Furthermore, the living conditions are squalid, and the food is appalling.
The seeds of resistance had been sown long ago, but the spark that lit the fuse was yet another instance of an instructor beating a student. Reports suggest the action was initiated by a “student assistant.” Enraged students smashed doors, windows, and extensive dormitory facilities, engaging in violent physical clashes with the instructors. Some students were injured during the conflict. After the situation spiraled out of control, the instructors fled the school en masse, and some students also left the camp. Subsequently, police intervened and cordoned off the school.
For a long time, such schools have operated in a regulatory gray area between education, training, and psychological intervention. Under the guise of “doing it for the child’s own good,” they establish order through confinement, fear, and absolute obedience, yet rarely solve the adolescents’ underlying psychological issues. Sending children to such institutions is often a way for some families to “pass the buck” following perceived educational failures: unwilling to face the fractures in the parent-child relationship or address the lack of companionship and deep psychological needs, parents attempt to outsource the problem to a crude and simplistic “reform system” for a solution.
Within these high walls, tragedies are endless. The fury of the Dezhou youths is paved with the blood and tears of countless historical tragedies. From Deng Senshan in 2009, to Lingling in 2014, and Li Ao in 2017; from the notorious Yuzhang Academy to Henan Yashengsi and Anhui Zhengneng… The riot at Dezhou Huandi School was not the frenzy of a mob, but the desperate roar for survival from countless “Li Aos” and “Linglings” trapped in a hopeless situation.
From February 1 to 3, workers at Hoshine Silicon in Shanshan County, Turpan, Xinjiang, went on strike due to long-term wage arrears. Public information shows that Hoshine Silicon’s four production bases in Xinjiang employ more than 11,000 workers, nearly 60% of whom are local ethnic minority employees (mainly Uyghurs).
Jinan Police Chief Personally Leads Land Seizure, Five Villagers Arrested (January 23, 2026)
On January 23, 2026, in Lifang Village, Jinan, Shandong Province, a two-year-long “battle for the defense of the land” ended in total defeat as five villagers were taken away by police. Amidst the roar of bulldozers, over 50 mu (approx. 8.2 acres) of wheat painstakingly cultivated by the villagers, thousands of fruit trees, and temporary prefab houses built upon the ruins were razed to the ground in an instant.
The conflict stemmed from a large-scale reservoir project in the Taiping Subdistrict of the “Jinan New and Old Kinetic Energy Conversion Start-up Area.” To facilitate the project, approximately 20,000 mu of land across six villages in Taiping Subdistrict was requisitioned, forcing the relocation of about 7,000 people. Initially, the villagers of Lifang were not entirely opposed to this “major national strategic water conservancy project.” They had expressed that although it was difficult to leave their native soil, they were willing to support the water infrastructure construction if the government could minimize the impact of relocation on their lives and provide reasonable resettlement.
However, reality dealt them a crushing blow. The compensation standards offered by the government were far too low to support the villagers in rebuilding their homes elsewhere. Unable to accept a fate of “becoming poorer the more they are demolished,” the villagers generally refused to relocate.
Over the past two years, to push the project forward, the local government exhausted every means available. Violent forced demolitions, cutting off water and electricity, and midnight raids became the norm, turning the original village into a landscape of rubble long ago. Nevertheless, some tenacious villagers chose to stay, erecting prefab houses on the ruins and guarding the land beneath their feet day and night. Slogans such as “Compensation is a must for forced demolition,” “No retreat in defending rights,” and “Return my home” painted on the temporary structures were shocking to behold. Villagers had even prepared Molotov cocktails, attempting a last-ditch stand. Yet, these tragic and heroic gestures appeared fragile and insignificant in the face of the powerful state apparatus.
For four days, from January 19 to January 22, authorities repeatedly mobilized large numbers of personnel and police to enter the village in an attempt to drive the villagers away, but they failed due to the villagers’ staunch resistance.
On January 23, to seize control of the land once and for all, a Public Security Bureau (Police) Chief from the Start-up Area personally took the field, leading dozens of officers into the village to participate in the forced demolition. Fearing that their brutal acts would be documented, the police and demolition crews preemptively dismantled surveillance cameras installed by the villagers.
Facing the menacing demolition squad, villagers repeatedly presented their legal land use certificates, but these were turned a blind eye. In despair, villagers climbed to the roofs of their prefab houses to stage a final protest. However, due to the sheer disparity in strength, the villagers’ line of defense quickly collapsed, and five villagers were arrested on the spot.
The five arrested villagers were immediately taken into custody at the local detention center. As of the 27th, they have yet to be released.
On January 29, the Pingshan Township government in Dianjiang County, Chongqing, dispatched government personnel to forcibly seize a piece of land from villagers in Group 3 of Wenchang Community, Pingshan Township, for the construction of a parking lot.
Follow-up Developments in the “Jie Wo Rui” Incident (Jan 28–30, 2026)
January 28: Investors gathered outside the Cuizhu Police Station in Luohu District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, to demand their rights.
January 29: Authorities continued to deceive investors into signing “letters of understanding,” pressuring them to give up their rights claims. Those who signed were able to receive cash compensation equal to 20% of their losses.
January 30: Dozens of investors went to the registered address of “Longyejin,” a company affiliated with “Jie Wo Rui,” to demand accountability. Clashes broke out between investors, company staff, police officers, and a large number of men dressed in black. Several rights defenders were detained at the scene.
On Jan 25, CCP authorities sent 100+ police to forcibly demolish a temple in Panling Village, Fujian, injuring villagers who resisted. Locals say the temple, built 5 years ago with 2 million RMB of their own money, faced no government opposition during construction.
Hundred-Billion-Yuan Gold Scam Erupts in Shenzhen, Thousands of Investors Clash with Police While Defending Their Rights (2026.01.27)
On the afternoon of January 27, 2026, a large-scale investor rights defense incident broke out in Shuibei, Shenzhen—the largest gold and jewelry trading hub in China. Thousands of investors from across the country gathered on the streets of Shuibei, demanding the redemption of their principal and the delivery of physical gold. The protest at one point escalated into physical confrontations, with multiple investors forcibly detained by police.
The collapse involves Jie Wo Rui Jewelry and its affiliated mini-programs, “Longye Gold” and “Jincheng Golden World,” which began experiencing redemption freezes starting January 19. According to victims’ own collective estimates, the number of people affected may exceed 150,000, with losses reaching an enormous scale—unofficial estimates place the total amount involved at as much as 13.3 billion RMB. It is reported that the company originally engaged in traditional gold trading before shifting to a so-called “pre-priced” business, a disguised futures operation that allowed users to participate in high-leverage trading with extremely low margin requirements. This model—essentially an illegal off-exchange “private market” betting scheme—collapsed completely amid sharp gold price fluctuations and a breakdown of the capital chain.
In addition, Jie Wo Rui used promotions such as “zero processing fees” and “high-price buybacks” as bait. Despite knowing it no longer had the ability to settle payments, the company continued aggressive promotion on social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu, inducing customers to mail gold and silver to its offline stores. After taking possession of the physical precious metals, the company delayed or outright refused payments under various pretexts, and then ultimately disappeared.
Beginning January 20, investors gradually converged on Shuibei in hopes of recovering their funds. Some even slept on the streets in the freezing winter, creating scenes that were deeply distressing. Despite the worsening situation, Zhang Zhiteng—the de facto controller of Jie Wo Rui—maintained a tough stance in videos he released. On the one hand, he publicly claimed he had “not fled” and blamed the situation on frozen bank cards; on the other, he reportedly mocked investors in private remarks, stating that funds had already been dispersed into accounts under relatives’ names, that he was not afraid of legal action, and even taunted: “Let’s drag it out—who can outlast whom.”
Meanwhile, local police delayed formally opening a case, citing the matter as an “economic dispute.” For more than a week, Zhang Zhiteng was not subjected to any coercive measures. At the same time, local authorities sought to persuade investors to accept highly unreasonable repayment proposals put forward by Jie Wo Rui, such as a “20% buyback,” which investors firmly rejected. Some rights defenders were detained for refusing to “cooperate.” In response, netizens angrily questioned: “Isn’t the cost of running away far too low? Owing so many people such a huge amount, yet the boss can still come and go freely as if nothing happened?”
According to multiple eyewitnesses on the scene, police on January 27 appeared to side with Jie Wo Rui, triggering clashes that led to several investors being detained or even beaten. Some investors were reportedly arrested simply for taking out their phones to record what was happening.
On January 28, the Luohu District government of Shenzhen released an official statement confirming abnormal operations at Jie Wo Rui and announcing the establishment of a special task force to intervene. However, with offline stores already abandoned and assets suspected to have been transferred, whether the hard-earned savings of more than 100,000 affected families can be recovered remains a major unanswered question. The incident continues to unfold.
On January 27, workers at the Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant operated by China Nuclear Industry 22nd Construction Co., Ltd. went on strike to demand unpaid wages.
On January 27, hundreds of workers blocked the entrance of the state-owned Shanxi Coking Coal Group, protesting the company’s wage arrears and a 500-yuan pay cut. They demanded the resignation of Wang Qiang, the Party secretary and chairman of the group.
