My recent review of events in 2006 included the red banner campaign against heiche (illegal forms of transport). I was further reminded of the campaign this week when I glanced through an academic report that analysed the whole affair. The report confirmed my suspicions as to what are motivations behind the campaign. It claimed that heiche are a danger to social order and a loss of tax revenue. This may be true, but like the blatant copyright infringements that occur in China, heiche are actually the lifeblood of the Chinese economy. China has minimal welfare – basically people need to make a living, rely on relatives or die hungry.
Heiche drivers should actually be lauded for their survival skills, even if it means taking part in something illegal. The report I glanced through said the same thing – the majority of heiche drivers are the unemployed and peasants who have lost their land.
According to the report, there are 80,000 people who are employed by the heicheheiche drivers. I don’t expect any new powers will be forthcoming, so expect a few more red banner campaigns in the future. industry in Beijing. That’s a lot of people who are making money off their own bat and not waiting around for government assistance. No wonder attempts to clamp down on this illegal industry have been half-hearted. The report noted that the authorities have little power to intercept and punish
| 