On June 28, 2025, a fatal traffic accident occurred on Yucai Road in Beijing’s Miyun District. A 35-year-old man, Han Xiaoshuo, drove his vehicle into a group of pedestrians, resulting in the deaths of 9 people, including 7 first-grade elementary school students and 2 adults. The scene was gruesome, with blood splattered across the road and the car severely damaged. The incident has sparked widespread public concern, but what remains puzzling is that Chinese state-run media downplayed the tragedy, labeling it simply as “improper vehicle operation,” which has drawn strong public backlash.
After the incident, police quickly arrived at the scene and detained the driver, Han Xiaoshuo. Preliminary investigations revealed no signs of alcohol or drug use, and his driving behavior appeared completely out of control, leading to the catastrophic casualties. However, the official media response was notably cold, failing to provide a thorough explanation of the true causes behind the tragedy and even downplaying its severity.
The Chinese government has long emphasized the stability of public security, claiming that China is one of the safest countries in the world. Yet, tragedies like this traffic incident continue to occur without adequate media coverage, with some news reports even being deliberately suppressed. At the same time, the government has proposed stringent controls over minor aspects of daily life, such as the implementation of real-name registration for the purchase of kitchen knives, which has raised concerns about the state’s ability to effectively manage safety.
This incident has once again ignited a broader public debate about China’s approach to social safety and governance, particularly regarding information control and government transparency. An increasing number of people are questioning whether the concept of safety in China is being overly packaged and what hidden risks may lie beneath the surface.