On July 2, limits were set on trading in Chenguang Biotech (晨光生物) stock to curb speculation [zh]. When stock in a particular company in China is expected to surge or plummet during the day, trading limits (涨跌停板) caps the fluctuation of the stock price. Chenguang is a pigment manufacturer that produces capsaicin, one of the ingredients in tear gas. July 2 was also the day riot police turned on unarmed protesters in Shifang.
NetEase Weibo user QiongBuPaPa (穷不怕怕) made a Cross-Talk Comic about the episode. Read the original here.
In the poem “I Love This Land” (我爱这土地), Ai Qing wrote, “Why are my eyes always brimming with tears? Because I love this land so deeply…” Something else is bringing tears to eyes now.
Plans to build the plant were scrapped and arrested protesters freed.
Since the Cultural Revolution, officials have blamed protests and wrongs on “a small bunch” (一小撮) of instigators.
Beijing is trying to maintain stability in preparation for this October’s leadership transition.
Translation by Josh Rudolph.
