The high-profile case of the kidnapping and murder of Sun Jing and Xia Kefu, executives of a prominent Chinese medical device company during their business trip to the Philippines, saw new developments yesterday.
According to Red Star News, a subsidiary of Chengdu Business Daily, an informant revealed yesterday that the victim's family was informed last month by the Philippine police that the mastermind behind the kidnapping had been arrested in the United States. After interrogation by the US police, it was found that the mastermind is Chinese and has confessed to the crime. The police are still pursuing other members of the gang.
The arrest of this Chinese mastermind was due to two main reasons: firstly, he was the one who collected the ransom in USDT, which allowed the US police to track his identity and apprehend him; secondly, a previously arrested accomplice, "Li Na," had provided information about his whereabouts, or his connection with "Li Na" led to his capture.
Moreover, it seems that he has harmed more than just one or two Chinese people, with further details pending police investigation.
In the days of living abroad, one might think of compatriots as a warm haven in a strange land, but the harsh reality cuts through this beautiful illusion like a sharp blade. These tragedies force us to ponder why compatriots become sources of danger abroad?
PASA believes that aside from the often-discussed notions of "inherent evil in human nature" or "scum fleeing abroad," there are also details of life abroad that are worth exploring.
Conflict of Interest as a Primary Factor
In the overseas business environment, it must be acknowledged that there is often fierce competition among compatriots. Many Chinese people engage in the same or similar industries abroad, and the scarcity of resources intensifies this competition. For example, in the Philippines' business sector, conflicts have become increasingly evident among Chinese-run businesses competing for market share, customer resources, and business opportunities. Although the specific reasons are still under investigation, the shooting incident at a Makati hotpot restaurant, reportedly due to business disputes, seems to be more than just a rumor.
When huge economic interests are at stake, some may be blinded by greed, putting aside compatriotism and resorting to extreme measures to suppress competitors and gain more benefits. This profit-first mentality distorts the originally supportive relationships among compatriots, turning them into breeding grounds for danger.
Cultural and Legal Differences
Overseas Chinese come from different parts of China, each with their own cultural backgrounds and values. In China, certain behaviors may be constrained by morals and public opinion, but in the local legal environment, some people's lack of understanding of local laws or their wishful thinking can trigger their darker side. In the Philippines, some Chinese may not be aware of the severe penalties for certain criminal acts under local law, or they might think that law enforcement is lax and that they can evade legal sanctions.
This gap in cultural and legal understanding makes some people more likely to resort to extreme measures in handling conflicts. In some disputes, they do not seek legal and peaceful solutions but choose violence, resulting in harm to compatriots. The differences in domestic and foreign legal and law enforcement intensities may trigger the evil in human nature, leading to actions that would otherwise be unthinkable.
Psychological Imbalance
Living in a foreign land, some Chinese may face significant psychological pressures. Some people, struggling to adapt to new environments and integrate into local societies, may become jealous of the success of their compatriots or have no outlet for their accumulated negative emotions. In such states of psychological imbalance, some may vent their misfortune and dissatisfaction on their compatriots.
Unfortunately, since compatriots are the easiest group for them to interact with, some psychologically fragile or twisted individuals may see their compatriots as targets for bullying or revenge. Acquaintances often know us best, and once they harbor harmful intentions, they can be particularly difficult to guard against.
Infiltration and Temptation of Criminal Networks
In the Philippines, the presence of transnational criminal gangs is well-known, and these gangs may use the connections among Chinese to commit crimes. They might entice or coerce some weak-willed Chinese into illegal activities such as kidnapping, fraud, and online gambling. Some Chinese unknowingly fall into these criminal networks, driven by profit or threats, and thus harm other innocent compatriots.
In kidnapping cases in the Philippines, criminal gangs have exploited the trust among compatriots to meticulously plan their crimes, causing great harm to the Chinese community. Worse still, once involved, it becomes exceedingly difficult to disentangle oneself.
In these four major factors, social and cultural differences and the surrounding criminal environment are external inducements, while self-mental adjustment and a proper perspective on interests are the core. Everyone must learn to protect themselves in complex environments while maintaining their moral standards, not driven by profit and desire. While we should not be overly cautious of all compatriots because of extreme cases, we must not ignore the potential dangers and risks of human evil.
