China Executes Two Men for Deadly Attacks Amid Rising Public Violence

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China has carried out the execution of Fan Weiqiu, 62, a man convicted of killing at least 35 people in a car attack in Zhuhai last November. This incident is considered the deadliest attack in the country in a decade. Fan drove his vehicle into a crowd of individuals exercising outside a stadium, leaving many others injured. State media reported that a second man, Xu Jiajin, 21, was also executed for a separate stabbing spree at his university in Wuxi, which claimed the lives of eight people.

Authorities indicated that Fan's motives stemmed from "dissatisfaction" concerning property division following his divorce, while Xu acted out following poor exam results that prevented him from graduating. After Fan was apprehended on November 11, he was found with self-inflicted wounds and was sentenced to death on December 17. Xu quickly confessed to his crime, and his motives were deemed "particularly bad and extremely serious.”

Reports suggest that China is the world’s leading executioner, though specific statistics on the death penalty are not disclosed. The country has recently confronted a wave of public violence, with 19 mass attacks reported in 2024 alone. Analysts indicate that these attacks reflect broader social tensions and frustrations, exacerbated by economic challenges.

Authorities continue to grapple with the implications of such incidents, raising concerns over the mental health and societal pressures facing many citizens.

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