China has executed two men, Fan Weiqiu and Xu Jiajin, for their involvement in two separate deadly attacks that shocked the nation last year. Fan, 62, drove his car into a group of people exercising outside a stadium in Zhuhai, killing at least 35 individuals and injuring dozens more. Authorities reported that his motive stemmed from his "dissatisfaction" with the division of his property following his divorce. Xu, 21, carried out a stabbing spree at his university in Wuxi, which resulted in the deaths of eight people. His attack reportedly followed his failure to obtain a diploma due to poor exam results.

These executions occur amid a surge in public violence in China, with many attackers believed to be driven by a desire for revenge against society. In 2024, the number of such violent incidents across the country reached 19, raising concerns about how stress and personal grievances affect individuals. Analysts attribute part of this growing tension to the country's sluggish economy. George Magnus, an economist at Oxford University's China Centre, stated, "The tensions do seem to be building, and it doesn't look like there is any way it is going to ease up in the near future."

Human rights groups have long criticized China's reliance on the death penalty, which is believed to be the highest in the world. However, because the country does not release official statistics, it is challenging to determine the true extent of executions. The cases of Fan and Xu have sparked renewed debate regarding the effectiveness of capital punishment as a deterrent to crime.

The executions of Fan and Xu serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of public violence. As China continues to navigate the complexities of its rapidly changing society, it remains uncertain whether the government's approach to addressing public violence will effectively prevent such tragedies in the future.