Security forces in northwest China used tear gas to quell two days of violent protests by thousands of people who used axes, chains and iron bars to attack police, witnesses and officials said on Wednesday.
At least 60 people, including police and officials, were injured during the riots, according to a statement on the government website of Longnan city in Gansu province, where the violence occurred.
I don't have much to add about the incident. It seems like violent clashes like this happen all the time in China yet none of it counts as an insurrection. The government worries these incidents will grow into a revolt. But they haven't yet and I have no idea what the tipping point is. I assume the problem from Peking's point of view is that neither do they.
What I want to note is the reporting on the geography. Click through to the map in the article. Note the article says the city is in northwest China. Check the map again. I'm just an amateur map reader and lowly blogger and not a trained journalist, but Longnan looks to be as close as humanly possible to being located smack dab in the geographic center of China.
Why say it is in "northwest" China when it is not? Does saying that it is "in the center" of China make it sound too close to home?
What's with the middle muddle?
