Surprisingly, just now, there was a lot of incredible news coming from China on May 17. I think that these new news may cause some emotional fluctuations, so I hope that everyone can treat them calmly, please look at these issues rationally, and welcome to leave a message in the comment area below to discuss together, without saying much, let's see what new news there is.
The first new news: Hubei Enshi net red pontoon accident, five people died, the person in charge of the scenic spot said that the pontoon bridge is German technology
On May 16, on the water pontoon bridge in the Shiguan Scenic Area of Enshi Xuan'en County, Hubei Province, a black tour bus broke through the fence while driving, fell into the river and sank. The accident killed five of the eight passengers on board and injured three. At present, the scenic area has been temporarily closed, and the cause of the accident is under investigation.
According to media reports, the incident occurred at about 11:19, and the vehicle that fell into the water was a 9-seater commercial vehicle. After the incident, the relevant departments rushed to the scene for rescue and disposal as soon as possible. The first 3 passengers rescued are currently fine, and the 5 passengers who were rescued later died after being taken to the hospital. The Information Office of Xuan'en County People's Government issued a circular saying that the aftermath and accident investigation are being carried out in an orderly manner.
Tourists who have visited the net red pontoon bridge during May Day said that all vehicles will be notified to open their windows in the foreground area of the upper pontoon, and he speculated that it was to facilitate the escape of passengers in case a vehicle fell into the water. There is a limited flow at the entrance, the speed limit is 20km/h, and there are two safety officers on the bridge on the day of the tour, but no safety officers are seen in the video of the accident. Passing cars generally drive slowly, but some will accelerate after passing a second safety officer in search of excitement.
According to upstream news reports, Mr. Tian, the person in charge of the Shiguan Scenic Area, said in an interview in March this year, "The pontoon bridge itself is German technology and used to cross tanks. Since it was put into use in 2016, there have been no accidents. Mr. Tian introduced that the pontoon bridge has no base, it is supported by a pontoon made of PVE, and under the power of water, it can overcome rigidity with softness. Secondly, the pontoon bridge itself is modified on the basis of a straight line, the bridge is sandwiched between two mountains, the closest distance from the mountain is not more than 1 meter, the center of the bridge is fixed by steel cables, when the car drives over, the bridge will not produce a large distance of floating.
Tianyancha App shows that Shiguan Scenic Area Operation Company, Xuan'en County Shiguan Tourism Investment and Development Co., Ltd., was established in February 2005. The double random inspection information shows that the company has found problems and ordered changes during the local supervision and inspection of the units using special equipment.
The accident has aroused widespread concern and discussion among netizens, some people questioned the safety and management level of the pontoon bridge, some lamented the fragility of life and the impermanence of accidents, and some people called for strengthening tourism safety education and improving self-protection awareness. For such an Internet celebrity attraction, should supervision and regulation be strengthened to avoid the recurrence of similar tragedies? For such an accident, should those responsible be held accountable in order to give an account to the victims? These are questions that deserve our deep consideration.
Second, the US military sent 100 servicemen to Taiwan to assist in Taiwan's training
Recently, the US Government sent more than 100 servicemen to Taiwan to assist the Taiwan authorities in training the military. This move has triggered strong dissatisfaction and opposition from the Chinese mainland, and has also exacerbated tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
According to the Russian Satellite News Agency, citing the US "Wall Street Journal", US government officials said that the United States has sent 100 to 200 military personnel to Taiwan, which is twice the current strength of troops stationed in Taiwan.
The Pentagon said that 100 active-duty military instructors from the US military arrived in Taiwan and that the purpose of this mission was to train Taiwan's military. This is part of a U.S. troop surge plan to improve Taiwan's defense capability and combat readiness.
The US dispatch of military personnel to Taiwan this time is undoubtedly a provocation and interference in the Chinese mainland. By strengthening military ties with the Taiwan authorities, the United States is trying to enhance the substantive relationship between the two sides, thereby containing and curbing the development and reunification process of Chinese mainland. The United States has also used this to pressure Chinese mainland to make concessions on other issues.
The third message, Taiwan's coastal patrol summer modification authorization: "No warning, you can fire directly"
On May 2, 2023, Taiwan's legislature passed the so-called amended Regulations on the Use of Equipment by Coast Guard Organs in third reading, authorizing ships of the Coast Guard Administration to determine the timing of artillery use at the discretion of the supreme commander on site when the situation is "urgent" or "unable to communicate effectively", and respond immediately. This means that in the event of endangerment by force, military provocation, coercion or suspected of committing crimes of civil unrest, external troubles, piracy, homicide, or smuggling of firearms and drugs, the captain of a ship under Taiwan's "Coast Guard" can directly order the firing of artillery and the use of weapons.
According to the website of Taiwan's "Oceanic Commission Coast Guard", the agency currently has 11 frigates of more than 1,000 tons, 3 frigates of more than 1,000 tons, and hundreds of small frigates and other vessels. These ships are mainly responsible for safeguarding Taiwan's fishing rights and interests, life-saving and rescue, maritime security, maritime affairs and marine conservation.
The introduction of this new "law" by the Taiwan authorities has undoubtedly further pushed up the risk index of the Taiwan Strait. Against the background of the current tension in cross-strait relations, if Taiwan's "Coast Guard" ships want to "fire their guns," the only possible target is the mainland. This is tantamount to sending a signal of provocation and challenge to the mainland, which may lead to serious consequences.
In addition, this new "law" has also exposed the Taiwan authorities' erroneous judgment and illusions about cross-strait relations. They thought that by amending the "law", they could improve their strength and deterrence, so as to gain an advantage in the confrontation with the mainland. They ignore the mainland's firm determination and strong ability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also underestimate the mainland's sensitivity and importance to the Taiwan issue. They did not know that once they touched the bottom line of the mainland, they would face disaster.