Chengguan in Wuhan stare down their targets

Chongqing Times
June 18, 2009

Wuhan’s chengguan, the urban control squad, have applied a new tactic to fight unruly, unregistered roadside businesses and redeem their poor image as brutal bullies.

According to today’s Chongqing Times, which features the story on the front page, chengguan in Wuhan successfully stared some rule-breakers into submission. The caption to the big cover image reads “I won’t beat you, I won’t curse you. I will just shock you with my eyes.”

The article inside, which originally appeared in a Wuhan-based newspaper, reports:

Around 8 o’clock at night, your correspondent went to Tushucheng Road. Even from far off, one could see the lingering smoke and smell the pungent fragrance from the grills. A restaurant selling fried shrimp had set up five or six tables on the pedestrian lane. Hills of shrimp shells could be seen on the table.

“You are breaking the city appearance regulations. Please cooperate and move your tables inside.” “I won’t get any business inside.” After persuasion failed, 50 team members stood in a circle and stared silently at the customers and the boss. After a 27-minute-long confrontation, two group of customers left and eventually the boss of the restaurant moved the table back inside.

Afterward, the enforcement team went to some other areas. Using the same tactics throughout the night, by 1 am they had eliminated 176 outdoor restaurants and delivered enforcement notices to 86 others.

In a separate report, vice mayor of Guangzhou Su Zequn quoted ancient strategist Sun Tzu in his talk, calling for a non-violent solution to keep the city clean:

In regard to the rising number of incidents involving violent resistance, Su Zequn asked the chengguan to stick to the principle of civilized enforcement. “Chengguan must enforce the law with true heart, not brutal force. Think up some new ways and defeat your enemy without fighting (不战而屈人之兵).

“Chengguan should have the high mobility of the American military, which swiftly transports its forces from country to country. Their number may not be that great. But with a high speed of deployment, it looks like they are more than they really are. Our chengguan should be like them. We will acquire buses, and even set up our own transportation department to go wherever and whenever we are needed.”