Jiangsu Province’s Report on the Investigation into the “Fengxian Woman Who Gave Birth to Eight Children” (with Xiang Shuai’s Notes)

The moment I saw the title, my heart sank. It’s quite a title — “woman who gave birth to eight children.” I’ll let you savour that one yourselves.

Ever since the day I started following this case, every time I read the facts and the reporting, it has made me physically ill — my stomach churning, my insides twisted into a knot.

I know I’m worked up right now. But the internet is a public space: one must be civilised, decorous, harmonious, and mindful of the “Eight Honours and Eight Shames.” So many words have been churning inside me, circling round and round in my mouth.

I can’t spit them out, and I can’t swallow them either.

So once again I’ll borrow someone else’s words. Xiang Shuai has a public conscience, reason, wisdom and real substance.

Here is what Xiang Shuai said:

The Jiangsu provincial investigation has released its findings. A few points in them remain the focus of public attention:

1. Yang Mouxia and Xiaohuamei are the same person. 2. The most senior official punished is at division level (the county Party secretary), making Fengxian County the core of accountability. 3. On trafficking and abuse — issues that go beyond the limits of human ethics — the report still dodges the heavy questions, with its emphasis throughout on words like “drifted” and “mental disorder”…

Overall, this is a by-the-book investigation report, and it’s not as though no effort was made — the public security authorities intervened directly in the DNA testing, and every procedure was more or less proper. But reading it, you still feel that a big matter is being shrunk into a small one. It lacks human warmth, and it lacks the empathy of “serving the people” that our Party has always stressed, as well as the deep self-awareness of “looking in the mirror” and “taking a bath” over one’s own problems. For example: why did no one ask about what happened to the “chained woman” for decades? What about the question of the local officials’ surnames? Why were all eight children she bore boys? And what about the large number of news stories compiled online about women in Xuzhou committing suicide?

These questions are not just about Fengxian, or Xuzhou, and perhaps not even only about the Yellow River flood plain. Pressing further is painful, but necessary.

Humanity is the nature that stands above every other “nature” — it is the starting point of our step from primates into “civilisation.” Without top-level changes at the level of law, “Fengxian” will be nothing more than one more bout of emotion fermenting on social media —

Of course, many local governments may also be underestimating the power of emotion. Especially in capital markets, emotion is increasingly showing its devastating force — who would dare touch the urban investment bonds of Fengxian, or even Xuzhou? Won’t company valuations be affected? When a project is about to land, shouldn’t people think about the risks involved? These risks aren’t only about personal safety; they are the ESG (environmental, social and governance) risks that everyone now takes more and more seriously. Words like ESG look abstract, but behind them lies human society’s consensus on certain “boundaries”: environmental sustainability, the social responsibility of being human, fairness and openness inside and out, basic respect for people’s rights, and so on. Ordinarily these words may seem bloody useless, but breaching these shared bottom lines is itself a huge risk. Capital has legs, and it runs faster than anyone. When a wall starts to fall, everyone gives it a push — and walls are not always as solid as they look.

As a self-media outlet on finance and economics, I rarely offer commentary on current affairs. If something is outside my professional field, not speaking about what I don’t understand is a basic principle. But as an ordinary person, I have my own basic values and ethical bottom line. As a woman and a mother, this time my bottom line wasn’t just touched — it was wounded to the extreme. I looked at that tormented face, in which you can still make out the fine, delicate features of her youth, and thought in a daze: one step away, and I would be her; one step away, and my child would be her (or him). What would become of my whole family, old and young, across generations? I don’t dare to think about it. Thinking about it leaves me cold all over.

With the release of this report, in the spring of 2022, the Year of the Tiger, this surging tide — billions of reads, the basic conscience of hundreds of millions of ordinary people set alight — has, whether we like it or not, probably reached the tail end of its ebb. Tides rise and fall, swift and fleeting. That is the power of the social media age, and its sorrow too. There are too many tides; humanity’s limited attention is washed over again and again until it becomes a blank.

I still couldn’t resist the urge: before everything turns blank, to write it down, to keep it on record, to remind our forgetful selves that we must remember. Remember this chain, this nameless woman referred to only as “Mou” — just as we remember Sun Zhigang, just as we remember Li Wenliang. Remember.

After the “Fengxian woman who gave birth to eight children” incident occurred, the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government attached great importance to it, requiring and guiding Xuzhou City to quickly establish the facts, handle the matter seriously in accordance with the law, effectively safeguard the rights and interests of the public, and respond to public concerns in a timely manner, with relevant provincial departments taking part in the investigation. On February 17, 2022, the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government set up an investigation team to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth investigation and verification. Since the incident, in addition to investigating within our province, investigators also travelled to Yunnan, Henan and other relevant provinces for on-site investigations, visiting more than 4,600 members of the public and reviewing more than 1,000 archival documents. The findings and handling of the investigation are hereby reported as follows.

I. On establishing the identity of the “Fengxian woman who gave birth to eight children”

On January 27, 2022, videos about the “Fengxian woman who gave birth to eight children” circulated on social networking platforms. Upon verification, the woman in the videos is currently registered under the name Yang Mouxia; her husband is Dong Moumin, and they live in Dongji Village (later merged into Lizhuang Administrative Village), Huankou Town, Fengxian County, Jiangsu Province. Based on the marriage registration application materials for Dong Moumin and Yang Mouxia issued in June 2000 by Shao Mouzheng, accountant of the Dongji Village Committee, the public security authorities obtained a lead that Yang Mouxia came from “Yagu Village, Fugong County, Yunnan Province.” They immediately dispatched police to Yunnan, who, together with local police and focusing on Yagu Village in Fugong County, conducted door-to-door inquiries in the surrounding townships regarding Yang Mouxia’s identity, asking local residents to identify Yang Mouxia’s marriage registration photo and recent photos. According to He Moumou (a former village cadre of Yagu Village), Yang Mouxia might be Xiaohuamei of that village (whose parents are deceased). Following leads from further investigation, the public security authorities found Xiaohuamei’s half-sister by the same mother, Guang Mouying (formerly named Hua Mouying), in Xiangcheng City, Henan Province. On February 9, the Institute of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Public Security carried out DNA comparison of blood samples from Yang Mouxia and Guang Mouying against biological material extracted from the belongings of Pu Mouma (Xiaohuamei’s mother, who died in 2018). The results showed that Pu Mouma was consistent with a biological parent-child relationship with both Yang Mouxia and Guang Mouying. On February 13, the Institute of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Public Security also conducted DNA comparison of blood samples from Sang Mouluo (Xiaohuamei’s eldest maternal uncle), Li Mouyuan (her youngest maternal uncle), Sha Moufu (her eldest maternal aunt) and Li Moumei (her youngest maternal aunt), all of which were consistent with a kinship relationship with Yang Mouxia. On February 20, the Institute of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Public Security re-tested and compared the samples of the above subjects, and the results were consistent with the earlier ones. Based on the DNA comparisons, a review of Xiaohuamei’s household registration records in Yunnan and the field investigation, it was determined that Yang Mouxia is Xiaohuamei (registered name Xiaohuamei, born May 13, 1977, from Yagu Village, Fugong County, Yunnan Province).

Regarding the question that “the woman in the photo on Dong Moumin and Yang Mouxia’s marriage certificate is not the same person as Yang Mouxia,” the public security authorities found that the recent photo of Yang Mouxia had been captured from a Douyin video and retouched before circulating online, and differed from her actual appearance. At the same time, owing to factors such as skin ageing, hair loss, the liquefaction of fatty tissue and missing teeth that come with age, Yang Mouxia’s appearance had also changed. On February 22, a facial identification by the Institute of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Public Security found that the facial features shown in the photo on Yang Mouxia and Dong Moumin’s marriage certificate, Yang Mouxia’s photo from her first marriage in Yunnan, screenshots of Yang Mouxia from the videos circulating online, Yang Mouxia’s ID card photo and recent photos of Yang Mouxia were the same, and determined them to be the same person.

Regarding the question that “Yang Mouxia may be Li Ying, a missing woman from Sichuan,” the public security authorities carried out a special investigation. Jiangsu public security authorities, together with Sichuan public security authorities, conducted DNA comparison between Li Ying’s mother and Yang Mouxia, and the results ruled out a biological parent-child relationship. The Forensic Identification Institute of Nanjing Medical University subsequently conducted DNA comparison between Li Ying’s mother and Yang Mouxia, and the results again ruled out a biological parent-child relationship. On February 20, an identification by the Institute of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Public Security once again ruled out a biological parent-child relationship between Li Ying’s mother and Yang Mouxia. On this basis, it was determined that Yang Mouxia and Li Ying are not the same person.

II. On how Xiaohuamei came from Fugong County, Yunnan Province, to Fengxian County, Jiangsu Province

According to interviews, villagers of Yagu Village in Fugong County, Xiaohuamei’s maternal uncles, aunts and other relatives, and other informed residents reported that in 1980 Xiaohuamei followed her remarried mother from Puluo Village, Pihe Township, Fugong County, Yunnan Province, to live in Yagu Village, Zilijia Township; in 1995 she married into Baoshan City, Yunnan Province, and after divorcing in 1997 she returned to Yagu Village. Xiaohuamei’s relatives and fellow villagers reported that after returning to the village her speech and behaviour were abnormal. Residents interviewed during the investigation reported that in early 1998, Xiaohuamei was taken from Yagu Village to Donghai County, Jiangsu Province, by Sang Mouniu (female, born July 1974, from Fugong County, Yunnan Province). Investigation found that Sang Mouniu married Shi Mouzhong (born April 1955) of Donghai County in 1995, and in December 2000 the couple were sentenced to five and seven years’ imprisonment respectively for other crimes of trafficking women and children.

On February 6, 2022, the public security authorities opened a criminal investigation into Sang Mouniu and Shi Mouzhong on suspicion of trafficking Xiaohuamei. According to the confessions of Sang Mouniu, Shi Mouzhong and Xu Moudong (male, born November 1965, from Donghai County, Jiangsu Province), at the end of 1997 Shi Mouzhong and Xu Moudong agreed that Sang Mouniu would help Xu Moudong find a wife, but that it would cost money, and Xu Moudong agreed. According to Sang Mouniu’s statement, in early 1998, under the pretext of introducing Xiaohuamei to a prospective husband and getting her medical treatment, she took Xiaohuamei to Donghai County and sold her to Xu Moudong, receiving 5,000 yuan in cash. According to Xu Moudong’s statement and his neighbours’ accounts, after living with Xiaohuamei for three or four months, one morning in early May 1998 Xu Moudong found that Xiaohuamei had gone missing; he and his neighbours and relatives searched for two or three days without success. Xu Moudong later demanded 2,000 yuan in “compensation” from Shi Mouzhong.

On the question of how Xiaohuamei got from Donghai County to Fengxian County, the public security authorities conducted an in-depth investigation. Under further interrogation, Dong Moumin confessed that in June 1998, his father Dong Mougeng had bought Xiaohuamei for money through an introduction by Liu Mouzhu (of Huankou Town, Fengxian County). Under interrogation, Liu Mouzhu admitted the criminal facts. The public security authorities successively arrested Huo Mouqu and Huo Moude (both of Huankou Town, Fengxian County) and the couple Tan Mouqing and Li Mouling (of Xiayi County, Henan Province). According to the four, Tan Mouqing and Li Mouling found Xiaohuamei, who had drifted there, at the restaurant they ran in Luoji Township, Xiayi County; they took her in for a month and then sold her to Huo Mouqu and Huo Moude, who were working at a construction site near the restaurant. The two took Xiaohuamei back to Fengxian County and, through an introduction by Liu Mouzhu, resold her to Dong Mougeng. The relevant criminal facts are still under in-depth investigation.

In June 2000, when Dong Moumin went to the village committee accountant Shao Mouzheng to obtain a certificate of marital status in order to apply for a marriage certificate, he changed the name Yang Mouying to Yang Mouxia on someone’s suggestion. Staff at the Huankou Town civil affairs office improperly processed the marriage registration based on the information Dong Moumin himself reported, registering the date of marriage as August 2, 1998, and Yang Mouxia’s date of birth (with “Yang” miswritten as a different character through a clerical error) as June 6, 1969. According to Dong Moumin’s statement, in March 2011, when Yang Mouxia gave birth to her second son at the Huankou Town health centre, the mother’s information was registered as “Yang Mouying”; the health centre required the newborn’s mother’s ID card, so his father Dong Mougeng had someone make a fake ID card for “Yang Mouying.” In November 2020, in order to apply for minimum living allowance, Dong Moumin applied to register a household registration for Yang Mouxia. In accordance with regulations, the public security authorities entered Yang Mouxia’s DNA information into the “National Public Security Information System for Finding Abducted/Missing Children” and the “National Public Security DNA Database” for comparison, with no match. On April 14, 2021, the Huankou police station, in accordance with the regulations for registering persons without household registration, issued her a collective household registration in the town and an ID card, registering her as Yang Mouxia, born June 6, 1969, according to the name and date of birth on the marriage certificate. Cadres and villagers of Dongji Village confirmed that the names Yang Mouying and Yang Mouxia were often used interchangeably and in fact referred to the same person.

III. On the mental and physical condition of Yang Mouxia (Xiaohuamei)

According to Dong Moumin’s statement and accounts from several villagers, when Yang Mouxia first arrived at the Dong family in June 1998, she was basically able to take care of herself and communicate with others, but sometimes showed signs such as giggling foolishly and a vacant stare. Dong Moumin said that Yang Mouxia had once told him her hometown was Yagu Village, Fugong County, Yunnan Province. According to Dong Mougang (Yang Mouxia’s eldest son), when he was little his mother sometimes took him to and from school. According to Dong Moumin’s relatives, after Yang Mouxia gave birth to her third son in 2012, her symptoms of mental disorder gradually worsened. On January 30, 2022, after a consultation by medical experts in Xuzhou, Yang Mouxia was diagnosed with schizophrenia. On February 19, a forensic assessment by the Forensic Identification Institute of Nanjing Brain Hospital concluded that Yang Mouxia suffers from schizophrenia and, affected by her current mental state, is unable to engage and communicate normally. On February 20, the Provincial Public Security Department commissioned the Institute of Evidence Law and Forensic Science of China University of Political Science and Law (Institute of Forensic Science and Technology) to conduct a review assessment, which reached the same conclusion. Yang Mouxia is currently receiving treatment in hospital.

Examination results on admission showed that, apart from her mental illness and dental disease, no other illness was found. On February 4, Xuzhou dental experts conducted an oral examination of Yang Mouxia and read her CBCT scans, concluding that her oral hygiene had long been poor and that she suffered from untreated periodontal disease, with some teeth gradually falling out. On February 9, a further diagnosis by experts at Nanjing Stomatological Hospital found that Yang Mouxia suffers from severe chronic periodontitis, which they said can cause teeth to loosen and fall out. On February 20, the Provincial Public Security Department commissioned three experts from Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing Stomatological Hospital of Capital Medical University and Zhejiang Dian Forensic Science Research Institute to hold a joint consultation on the condition of Yang Mouxia’s teeth. They concluded that Yang Mouxia suffers from severe chronic periodontitis and found no objective evidence that her missing teeth were caused by trauma.

IV. On Yang Mouxia (Xiaohuamei) giving birth to eight children

Yang Mouxia and Dong Moumin had eight children in total. Household registration records show that the eldest son, Dong Mougang, was born in July 1999; the second son in March 2011; the third son in April 2012; the fourth child, a daughter, in November 2014; the fifth son in May 2016; the sixth son in May 2017; the seventh son in November 2018; and the eighth son in January 2020. The Xuzhou public security authorities conducted DNA comparison of the eight children with Yang Mouxia and Dong Moumin, concluding that all eight children have a biological parent-child relationship with both of them. They then commissioned the Forensic Identification Institute of Nanjing Medical University to conduct DNA testing, which reached the same conclusion. On February 20, testing and identification by the Institute of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Public Security again reached the same conclusion.

The investigation found that after Yang Mouxia gave birth to her first child in 1999, birth control measures were taken, and Dong and Yang had no children until 2010. The birth control measures then failed, and from 2011 to 2020 they had seven more children. Grassroots family planning workers failed to conscientiously perform their duties in follow-up management, service guidance and information collection, and bear responsibility for lax management and oversight.

Regarding the claim that “Xiaohuamei’s first child, Dong Mougang, was born in 1997,” the public security authorities found that there are two people named Dong Mougang in Huankou Town: one, born in 1999, is Yang Mouxia’s eldest son; the other, born in 1997, is from a neighbouring village and is currently working away from home.

V. On the suspected crimes of Dong Moumin and others

On January 31, 2022, the public security authorities opened a criminal investigation into Dong Moumin on suspicion of illegal detention. According to witness testimony from Dong Moumin’s relatives and villagers, on-site inspection, forensic assessment, documentary evidence, physical evidence such as the iron chain, and Dong Moumin’s own confession, since 2017 Dong Moumin had subjected Yang Mouxia to abuse when she had episodes of her illness, including tying her up with cloth strips and ropes, locking an iron chain around her neck, and not taking her for medical treatment when she was ill. On February 18, 2022, the public security authorities requested the procuratorate’s approval to arrest Dong Moumin on suspicion of the crime of abuse. On February 22, after review in accordance with the law, the Fengxian County People’s Procuratorate found that the suspect Dong Moumin had abused a family member in a flagrant manner and approved his arrest on suspicion of the crime of abuse. The public security authorities will investigate and collect evidence on the criminal facts involved in the case, including suspected crimes such as buying an abducted woman.

On February 22, the Fengxian County People’s Procuratorate approved the arrest of the suspects Sang Mouniu and Shi Mouzhong on suspicion of the crime of trafficking women. The public security authorities will continue to investigate and collect evidence on the criminal facts involved in the case.

The public security authorities have opened cases against and taken criminal compulsory measures against the suspects Xu Moudong, Liu Mouzhu, Huo Mouqu, Huo Moude, Tan Mouqing and Li Mouling, and are continuing to investigate and collect evidence.

The suspects involved in this case will be severely punished in accordance with the law.

VI. On medical treatment and assistance

On January 28, 2022, the health departments of Xuzhou City and Fengxian County sent Yang Mouxia to hospital for examination and treatment, and the Fengxian County government assigned staff to stay with her at the hospital together with her eldest son, Dong Mougang. Treatment of Yang Mouxia’s illness is currently being actively carried out.

Relevant provincial departments urged and guided Xuzhou City to provide support in accordance with the Civil Code, the Law on the Protection of Minors and the Interim Measures for Social Assistance. A “caring mothers” group has been formed to look after her minor children; guardians have been appointed for Yang Mouxia and her minor children; and policies such as minimum living allowance and social security have been put in place, along with specific measures such as household care, education subsidies, and care and support.

VII. On the handling of dereliction of duty by relevant Party members, cadres and public officials

Following review and investigation by the discipline inspection and supervision authorities, the Xuzhou Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government have been ordered to make a profound self-criticism, and the relevant responsible units and personnel have been dealt with in accordance with regulations, discipline and law.

Lou Hai, Party secretary of Fengxian County, violated work discipline, was irresponsible in his work, engaged in formalism and bureaucratism, failed to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the public, and neglected his duties in the treatment and assistance of patients with mental disorders and in family planning management. He failed to conscientiously organise verification of the facts and approved the release of a situation report containing untrue information, causing a seriously negative impact. It has been decided to remove him from his Party post and dismiss him from his government post.

Zheng Chunwei, deputy Party secretary and county head of Fengxian County, violated work discipline, was irresponsible in his work, engaged in formalism and bureaucratism, failed to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the public, and neglected his duties in the treatment and assistance of patients with mental disorders and in family planning management. He failed to conscientiously organise verification of the facts and agreed to the release of a situation report containing untrue information, causing a seriously negative impact. It has been decided to give him a serious intra-Party warning, remove him from his Party post, and order him to resign as county head.

Su Bei, member of the Standing Committee of the Fengxian County Party Committee and head of its Publicity Department, violated work discipline, was irresponsible in the work, failed to conscientiously verify the facts, and released a situation report containing untrue information, causing a seriously negative impact. It has been decided to give Su Bei a serious intra-Party warning and remove Su Bei from the post.

Sun Cunxian, deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Fengxian County People’s Congress, while serving as deputy county head of Fengxian, violated work discipline, engaged in formalism and bureaucratism, was irresponsible in the family planning and health work under her charge, and failed to perform her duties and exercise proper management and oversight in the treatment and assistance of patients with mental disorders and in family planning management. It has been decided to demote her in her government post.

Gao Wei, member of the Party leadership group and vice chair of the Xuzhou Municipal Women’s Federation, while serving as director of the Fengxian County Health Commission, engaged in serious formalism and bureaucratism, was seriously irresponsible in her work, and seriously neglected her duties in the treatment and assistance of patients with mental disorders and in family planning management. She is suspected of violating discipline and law, is currently under disciplinary review and supervisory investigation by the discipline inspection and supervision authorities, and has been placed in detention (liuzhi).

Xu Shanxiu, Party secretary of Huankou Town, Fengxian County, while serving as town head and Party secretary of Huankou Town, engaged in serious formalism and bureaucratism, was seriously irresponsible in his work, failed to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the public, and seriously neglected his duties in the treatment and assistance of patients with mental disorders and in family planning management. He is suspected of violating discipline and law, is currently under disciplinary review and supervisory investigation by the discipline inspection and supervision authorities, and has been placed in detention.

Shao Hongzhen, deputy Party secretary and town head of Huankou Town, Fengxian County, engaged in serious formalism and bureaucratism, was seriously irresponsible in his work, failed to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the public, and seriously neglected his duties in the treatment and assistance of patients with mental disorders and in family planning management. He is suspected of violating discipline and law, is currently under disciplinary review and supervisory investigation by the discipline inspection and supervision authorities, and has been placed in detention.

Chen Xiufeng, third-grade principal staff member of the United Front Work Department of the Fengxian County Party Committee, while serving as the organisation committee member of the Huankou Town Party Committee, violated work discipline, was irresponsible in the family planning work under his charge, and failed in management and oversight. It has been decided to place him on one year’s Party probation and dismiss him from his government post.

Cheng Yanwei, fourth-grade senior police superintendent of the Fengxian County Public Security Bureau, while serving as a member of the bureau’s Party committee and deputy director, violated work discipline, was irresponsible in the public security work under his charge, failed in management and oversight of abuse within his jurisdiction, and did not adequately organise and promote the screening and assistance of patients with mental disorders. It has been decided to give him a serious intra-Party warning.

Yin Xianfang, deputy director of the Fengxian County Letters and Visits Bureau, while serving as deputy director of the Fengxian County Health and Family Planning Commission, violated work discipline and failed to perform his duties and exercise proper management and oversight in the family planning work under his charge. It has been decided to give him a serious intra-Party warning.

Qu Hui, head of the Huankou police station of the Fengxian County Public Security Bureau, violated work discipline, was irresponsible in his work, processed household registration without thorough verification, failed in management and oversight of abuse within his jurisdiction, and did not effectively implement the screening and assistance of patients with mental disorders. It has been decided to expel him from the Party and dismiss him from his government post.

Shi Ruihong of the Huankou Town Comprehensive Management Office, Fengxian County, violated work discipline, was irresponsible in the work, failed in management and oversight of abuse within the area of responsibility, and did not effectively organise and implement the screening and assistance of patients with mental disorders. It has been decided to expel Shi Ruihong from the Party and dismiss Shi Ruihong from government posts.

Yu Fazhen, former civil affairs assistant of Huankou Town, Fengxian County, while serving as civil affairs assistant of Huankou Town, violated work discipline, improperly processed a marriage registration and altered the registration date on the marriage certificate. It has been decided to expel Yu Fazhen from the Party.

Yu Xiujuan of the Huankou Town Family Planning Station, Fengxian County, violated work discipline, was irresponsible in her work, and concealed and turned a blind eye to serious violations of the birth limits. It has been decided to dismiss her from her government post.

Li Jinsong, secretary of the general Party branch and director of the villagers’ committee of Lizhuang Village, Huankou Town, Fengxian County, violated work discipline, was irresponsible in his work, turned a blind eye to serious violations of the birth limits and to abuse, and failed to provide effective treatment and assistance to a patient with a mental disorder. It has been decided to expel him from the Party and order him to resign as director of the villagers’ committee.

Dong Zhengpei, former director of the villagers’ committee of Lizhuang Village, Huankou Town, Fengxian County, violated work discipline, was irresponsible in his work, turned a blind eye to abuse and to serious violations of the birth limits, and failed to provide effective treatment and assistance to a patient with a mental disorder. It has been decided to expel him from the Party.

Dong Qinghua, deputy secretary of the general Party branch of Lizhuang Village, Huankou Town, Fengxian County, while serving as the village’s dedicated family planning officer, violated work discipline, was irresponsible in his work, and turned a blind eye to serious violations of the birth limits. It has been decided to remove him from his Party post.

The “Fengxian woman who gave birth to eight children” incident has exposed that, for a period of time, the relevant local Party committees and governments in our province were ineffective in implementing the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, with quite a few problems and shortcomings in grassroots organisation building, the protection of the rights and interests of women and children, and the assistance and care of special groups. It reflects that a small number of Party members and cadres have not firmly established the people-centred development philosophy, with serious formalism and bureaucratism and a weak awareness of the rule of law, leading to gaps in grassroots services and management and the collapse of the line of defence protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the public. Issues of dereliction of duty and violations of discipline and law will be further investigated in depth and seriously dealt with in accordance with discipline and law. We will draw profound lessons, strengthen grassroots organisation building and social governance, strengthen the conduct of cadres, and educate all Party members and cadres to always put the people first, stand firmly with the people, cultivate deep feeling for the people, go deep into the grassroots and among the masses to understand their circumstances, strengthen their awareness of the rule of law, effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the public, and hold the bottom line of guaranteeing people’s livelihoods. The province has recently launched a special campaign to comprehensively investigate and rectify violations of the rights and interests of women, children, patients with mental disorders, people with disabilities and other groups, to crack down severely in accordance with the law on the crimes of trafficking women and children and of buying trafficked women and children, to fully implement assistance and support policies, and to effectively safeguard and guarantee the rights and interests of the people.

Investigation Team of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government

February 23, 2022

(Source: CCTV News / reporter Yang Guang)

Psychologists say that emotions that cannot be released turn into physical illness. That’s the first half of what I want to say. The second half is hard to say.

I hope higher-level national authorities will step in, and that after the Two Sessions, more policies and regulations will be introduced in response to this incident.