Violence against women + State of the solar industry • China.Table

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Dear reader,

The incident that happened a few days ago in a restaurant in Tangshan, northern China, is horrific and despicable: A group of Chinese men savagely attacked several women. The incident has sparked yet another debate about violence against women in China – as far as censorship permits. And yet this report is just the latest in a series of cruel acts of violence against women: The woman found chained up in Xuzhou last year, domestic violence in Xi’an in January, or the almost daily reports of men attacking their wives in the streets.

Fabian Peltsch spoke with Shanghai feminist Eloise Fan. She explains what lies behind the brutality of Chinese men, which social structures encourage such behavior – and what role the authoritarian regime of the Communist Party plays in all this.

Our second piece is dedicated to the state of the solar industry. It was German Minister of Finance Christian Lindner who, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, called renewable energies “freedom energies” to great media effect. But at least for the solar industry, that is simply a misleading label: The dependence on China, which dominates the entire solar supply chain, is far too significant in this sector. And Beijing has set massive expansion targets for the coming years.

So today’s look is on the current state of the solar sector and whether the current supply difficulties are a result of China’s own demand.

Your
Michael Radunski

Interview

Tangshan assault: ‘This is a country full of toxic masculinity’

Eloise Fan criticizes China’s male-dominated society

A brutal attack on several women in Tangshan, northeast China, has left many Chinese horrified. The incident has sparked a debate about violence against women in the country – as far as censorship allows. Speaking with China.Table, Shanghai feminist Eloise Fan explains that an authoritarian government adds to the problem.

The brutal assault in a Tangshan restaurant once again casts a spotlight on sexually motivated violence against women in China – and far beyond the country’s borders. How did you feel when you saw the footage?

Honestly, I didn’t watch the video because I already knew what to expect. Such events are nothing new in China. Violent attacks happen here every day in masses. Things won’t change. That’s why I don’t need to click on the video and watch another incident. I’m still in lockdown and trying to avoid all the negative feelings, I know that would make me suffer. I need to keep living in this hard situation.

Could the massive outrage that the incident is now stirring change anything?

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