Polar catfish

The Highly Publicized 'Arctic Catfish' Incident Brings New Developments

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10 October 2023

In a development that has been highly publicized in Chinese social media, Zhong Gengshi, former director of the Freight Transportation Management Bureau of Shenzhen City, has been given a party discipline dismissal and his retirement benefits have been determined at the level of a second-level staff member. This comes as part of an investigation by the Shenzhen Municipal Supervisory Committee and Prohibition Bureau into serious violations of party discipline and criminal behavior. The inquiry found that Zhong Gengshi was not loyal to the party and had colluded with others on several occasions to resist organizational review while also engaging in bribery and other illegal activities.

The incident refers to Zhong's granddaughter, known as "Arctic catfish" online. As the news broke regarding his punishment, Chinese social media has been abuzz with reactions from netizens expressing a mix of satisfaction, frustration, and confusion. Users on Weibo, China's most popular microblogging platform, expressed their indignation over the case and demanded more efforts to combat corruption within the government.

One user wrote, "Don't say there is no point in making a sound, and it was thanks to the concerns of Internet users that we were able to resolve the issue of Arctic catfish." Another user commented, "Help, Shenzhen Northern Snake event in the end is corruption offenders and retirement benefits. The lines are blurred between right and wrong; black and white have been reversed. Those who steal a nation are princes while those who love their country are dogs and pigs."

However, some netizens also voiced concern over the harsh punishments handed out to corrupt officials, with one user saying, "Having just watched the movie, it was still very exciting, but there always seemed to be a lot that the movie wanted to say and didn't dare to say. It clearly felt cut a lot, but it could still be seen. As for the end, it is another ending in which an evil person is severely punished in the end. In today's context, it has a sense of unreality."

The case raises questions about the correlation between rank and civil servant salaries in China. The higher the rank of a civil servant, the more significant their responsibilities and influence. However, this also means that they are subject to stricter scrutiny and higher penalties for any wrongdoing. In situations where a civil servant's rank is found to be misappropriated or abused, it can be reduced or even revoked.

This incident serves as a reminder of the Chinese government's ongoing efforts to combat corruption within its ranks and demonstrate transparency to the public. The case also underscores the importance of social media in holding those in power accountable for their actions, with many netizens using platforms like Weibo to voice their dissatisfaction and push for change.

The Arctic Catfish incident has sparked a wave of discussions about corruption and transparency within the Chinese government. The case highlights the need for continued efforts towards internal self-reform and anti-corruption measures, with many users expressing hope that such incidents will become more common in the future.

In conclusion, the "Arctic Catfish" incident has brought new developments and reactions from Weibo netizens, underscoring the ongoing efforts to combat corruption within the