Beijing (AsiaNews) - After 20 children were killed in the United States in an attack, Chinese internet users attacked Chinese media for their indifference towards serious incidents that occur in China, including those involving minors.
The latest example is an attack carried out by a 36-year-old man who last Friday stabbed children with a knife at a primary school in the central province of Henan, injuring about 20.
At the same moment, a young man shot 20 children to death in a Connecticut primary school for reasons still to be determined.
In light of the similarities between the two tragic events, Chinese media focused on the US case and on the ease with which Americans can get weapons, downplaying the Henan incident.
Online, many Chinese expressed their shock. "From an ocean away," wrote one, "as soon as the American shooting occurred we speedily learned the number of dead and the whereabouts of the killer. In our own country, we can't hear anything about [the Guangshan attack]. American children died, the President cried; [. . .], Chinese children don't even get that!"
According to some analysts, the choice made by Chinese media not to cover the Henan incident is no accident. It stems from a desire to downplay tragedies that occur at home and emphasise those that happen abroad.
Some, mostly local Chinese newspapers tried to break the wall of silence, but were quickly told to shut up.
The authorities in China blamed recent attacks on doomsday cults, the latest one on a group called 'Oriental Lightning', which is allegedly trying to raise awareness in the country about the pending end of the world. For the authorities, they are behind the attack on innocent people in Henan.
In reality, China's school system and society are so competitive (like that of the United States) that some people are driven to madness by desperation.
