Mass killings in schools spread in China

According to a May 13th article by the Economist, a series of attacks on Chinese elementary students has broken out after an initial attack early in March. As guns are near impossible for civilians to attain, the weapons used by the attackers are predominantly knives, which they have used to severely injure and kill several Chinese elementary school children. After the first attack, several "copy-cat" incidents have occurred across China. Chinese officials have been granted the power to kill these attackers on the spot in several provinces, and security patrols have been heightened to prevent any more attempts. The perpetrators of these attacks are said to be mentally-ill Chinese citizens. Observers have contemplated the idea that the motives of the murderers may stem from frustration with the government which they have taken out on the weak. A British medical journal reported that less than 10% of Chinese mental patients do not receive treatment. The Chinese government has been predictably tight-lipped concerning the attacks, as a measure to cover up the violence (which has occurred at a most inopportune time, due to the ongoing Shanghai World Expo) and prevent further copy-cat attempts.

These killings have presented China with a challenge in terms of national security. The government's swift response to the attacks demonstrates great efficiency of the Chinese government, which is due to the concentration of power within the Politburo and its Standing Committee. The use of knives reflects China's strict ban on gun use. The media's limited response to the attacks demonstrates the government's control on information flow (a corporatist system) and a lack of transparency in reporting events. The lack of treatment for mental patients reveals a problem within the health care system and an issue in public policy.


Photo credit: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/15/china.kindergarten.attack/index.html?iref=allsearch

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