Sympathy for the Chinese hostess

The Deng Yujiao case sparked anger because it was seen as a case of a lone woman pitted against three rich and powerful men who were demanding sexual favors. One of them repeatedly slapped her on the head with a thick wad of cash.

There were also suspicions that the local government was initially trying to help the officials involved by depicting Ms. Deng, whom the public saw as the victim, as little more than a prostitute.

Right now, it is clear that many people in China do not have faith in the authorities, including the police and the court system. There is no rule of law as understood in the outside world.

Until China develops such a system, a lot of people will continue to identify with individuals who dare to take on the authorities, cheering on those who have the courage to defy those in positions of power.

The widespread public support for Yang Jia did not help him escape capital punishment. It remains to be seen if the support for Deng Yujiao will help her escape a charge of murder.

One positive sign is that the case has attracted attention in Beijing. On May 26, she was released on bail after having been held on suspicion of murder for more than two weeks.

Then, on June 1, the official Xinhua News Agency reported that both officials present when Deng Guida was stabbed have been fired.

Huang, who was injured in the incident, was also kicked out of the Communist Party because he had “pushed, shoved and verbally insulted a waitress who refused to accompany them to take a bath,” Xinhua reported. According to the news agency, his colleague was fired because the incident had caused a “bad social effect.”

If, in spite of everything, the police should decide to charge her with murder, there may well be protests across the country. A murder charge may appear unlikely, but Deng Yujiao is by no means out of the woods yet. But officials, aware of the public mood, may well want to proceed with caution. After all, she is now a national hero.

Frank.ching@gmail.com

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