Summary：Over the weekend, while scrolling through my WeChat Moments, I came across an article titled "Don't Bring the Sense of Safety You Feel When You're Eating Barbecues Late at Night in China to America." Based on numerous recent incidents of international students being victimized and an analysis of the local safety environment in the US, the article pointed out that "living in the US is like playing a video game; you need to know which areas are dangerous and avoid them carefully. At the same time, be aware that even in safe areas..."
Over the weekend, while scrolling through my WeChat Moments, I saw an article titled "Don't Bring the Sense of Security You Feel When You're Eating Barbecues Late at Night in China to America." Based on several recent cases of international students being victimized and an analysis of the local security environment in the US, the article pointed out that "living in the US is like playing a video game; you need to know which areas are 'hotspots' and carefully avoid them. At the same time, be aware that even in safe areas, there might be random monsters suddenly appearing, so don't let your guard down."
China's security gives people a sense of security.
In fact, it's not just the US. In recent years, with the acceleration of globalization, more and more Chinese people are traveling, studying, and working abroad, and the resulting overseas security issues are receiving increasing attention. Perhaps many Chinese citizens are not entirely satisfied with the current social security environment in China, but compared to many other countries overseas, Chinese people are probably "unaware of their good fortune."
Let's look at some data:
According to the "2016 Global Crime and Safety Index Ranking," South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are the top five safest countries and regions in the world.
Crime Index for Country 2016 (Image from the internet, for reference only; please contact us to remove if there are any issues)
Another global murder rate report shows that Africa and South America have the highest murder rates. China is among the countries with the lowest rates.
Perhaps the data doesn't give you a direct sense of the situation, and the statistical definitions of crime vary from country to country. But wouldn't it be more convincing to hear evaluations from foreigners?
Previously, Global Times conducted street interviews on this issue. Almost all foreign visitors to China said that China is a very safe country, with many saying it is much safer than their own countries. This sense of security largely stems from several aspects:
1. Daring to go out late at night. Perhaps this is nothing special for Chinese people, but for people in many countries, they would absolutely not dare to go out alone at night. Some netizens even said that in France, they wouldn't dare to go out in a group after 7 pm.
2. Police and cameras are everywhere. It's common knowledge worldwide that you should call the police for help when something happens. However, in many countries, the police are not directly managed by the state; some are directly governed by regions, and some are employed by law enforcement agencies. This leads to disparities in local economic development, resulting in varying police numbers. Prosperous areas have many police officers, while impoverished areas have few or no police. This worsens security in these areas, impacting surrounding regions. In contrast, uniformed police officers are ubiquitous in China, along with auxiliary police and community patrol organizations, contributing to a greater sense of security for foreign visitors. Furthermore, the presence of security checkpoints in subways and train stations, and the layered security measures at large gatherings, further impress visitors with China's robust security.
3. Strict management of dangerous goods. In China, whether it's controlled knives, flammable and explosive materials, or any other prohibited dangerous items or tools, they are dealt with severely upon discovery. The national and local governments regularly conduct comprehensive crackdowns. Abroad, these items, rarely found in China, are often seen on the streets, causing unease.
4. The warmth and kindness of the Chinese people. Most people in China are friendly and welcoming, making many foreign visitors feel comfortable and relaxed, thus increasing their sense of security.
If you were to ask what the most dangerous thing is in China? The answer from foreign friends—"those speeding motorcycles/electric scooters"—isn't it laughable?
China's security system has a unique approach.
How did China achieve such high praise from foreign friends?
Actually, the establishment of China's secure environment wasn't achieved overnight. It mainly began after the reform and opening up, when the country transformed comprehensive social governance into a national action. The release of the "Opinions on Further Strengthening Comprehensive Social Security Governance" in 2001 was a landmark move, with the most familiar example being the 110 emergency number.
In recent years, with the advancement of internet security technology, various security and air defense networks have gradually realized the integrity, rigor, and reliability of the social security system. Among them, the "Skynet" project, represented by video surveillance, has had an immediate and significant effect. The long arm of the law is inescapable. The deployment of the Skynet network has also made those troublemakers more cautious.
In this new era, with the implementation of smart city and smart security projects, security is shifting from passive enforcement to proactive prevention, more effectively curbing social insecurity and creating a safer future. The booming development of the security industry in recent years is a result of national emphasis and increasing societal demand.
Improving public security is an ongoing process, and there are lessons to be learned from abroad.
Of course, China's good public security situation doesn't mean it's completely problem-free. Public security control is not solely the result of national policies, technology, and personnel efforts. Changes in national economic strength, social uncertainties, and the cultural and educational levels of the population all affect the level of public security. China's public security system construction has never been relaxed and will not be in the future.
While China's current public security situation is the envy of many foreigners, some Chinese still express dissatisfaction. School violence, medical disturbances, and public safety incidents still inevitably occur domestically. In fact, the less-than-ideal security environments abroad have indeed inspired many worthwhile security and prevention measures for them to learn from.
For example, in the United States, there are home alarm systems that integrate fire prevention, burglar prevention, and emergency medical services, allowing for a one-button alarm in emergencies. However, in China, the installation of burglar alarms/smoke detectors in homes is not common. Furthermore, these devices cannot interconnect with security centers. Schools abroad typically have emergency alarm pillars, which have become popular in China this year. Many manufacturers of similar products are expanding the use of these one-button emergency pillars in public places such as squares, scenic spots, and main roads. In addition, netizens have recommended a travel monitoring app. Users can enter their starting point and select a friend from their contacts as the monitor, allowing them to see their real-time location. If the person deviates from the planned route or changes speed, the app will issue an alarm. This seems like a very interesting feature!
Besides one-button alarm pillars, in terms of school safety, France implemented school violence monitoring software in 2001. 95% of school data is aggregated into a database, effectively protecting student safety, strengthening communication between schools and parents, increasing parental trust in teachers, and reducing incidents of parents causing disturbances at schools.
In conclusion, we should learn from others' strengths to make up for our own weaknesses. The establishment of China's public security and crime prevention system is in line with China's national conditions, a successful experience, and something the Chinese people can be proud of. However, with the increasing trend of globalization, China should also fully consider the changing environment, make full use of the power brought by technological development, and promptly improve its public security and crime prevention system to ensure long-term national stability and security.
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