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Protests across regions were documented, highlighting the frustration of veterans demanding their wages and expressing their discontent with a government they feel has abandoned them. With some veterans reportedly receiving only a fraction of their salaries, many are now publicly denouncing the Communist Party's leadership.
A Crumbling Urban Landscape
The backdrop to this turmoil is a crumbling urban infrastructure. Major commercial areas in Beijing and Shanghai report vacated office buildings and high vacancy rates as businesses are forced to shut down or considerably cut staff. Retail sales plummeted, with significant year-on-year declines in major cities, further illuminating the stark contrast between the CCP’s proclaimed prosperity and the grim realities confronting citizens.