Campus violence in China a growing problem, perpetuated by legal loopholes

File Photo (Xinhua)

For most students, summer conjures up visions of sunshine, warm breezes and carefree getaways. However, for 13-year-old Xiao Man (a pseudonym) those associations couldn’t be any further off the mark.

On a summer night in 2015, Xiao Man was punched, kicked and slapped by a group of female classmates. Her arms and face were burned by lit cigarettes, and large chunks of her hair were torn out. It has been more than a year since this incident occurred, but Xiao Man is still frequently woken by nightmares about the attack.

A string of similar violent incidents has occurred in recent years, with such growing regularity that the rise of these female aggressors – and indeed, the rise of young teenaged attackers overall – is becoming a new “trend.”

From 2013 to 2015, in 100 school violence cases that went to trial, more than 88 percent caused personal injuries. Those causing serious injuries or even death accounted for 67 percent, according to statistics released by the Supreme Court.

Middle school and junior high students are the most common offenders in school violence cases, accounting for as 33.96 percent. They are followed by high school students, accounting for 22.64 percent.

However, under the current Child Protection Law in China, minors over the age of 14 but under the age of 16 do not face harsh punishments unless they commit “serious” crimes such as murder; in other words, violence in middle schools is likely much more prevalent than the court record makes it appear.

Despite the high rate of these incidents, the technical and legal definition of school bullying remains unclear. Many people interpret it as insulting language or nicknames exchanged between students. Others say that only physical violence counts as real brutality.

Loopholes in legislation may be indirectly extending the bullying epidemic. The current Child Protection Law and Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency are both inclined to protect the rights of teenagers with advocacy rather than disciplinary measures. And since it takes so long to solve the problems through legislation, some experts suggested that amending the existing terms of the law would be most realistic and convenient.