Eviction order not working? Hold tight while we demolish the block around you.
It has almost become a cliché to highlight the unique approach to demolition adopted by the Chinese as its economy continues to consume existing homes in favour of expensive new developments.
We have seen questionable demolition and implosion methods, a two-lane road built around the home of a stubborn homeowner, and a car park demolished around a car. But even by those high standards, this one just about takes the biscuit.
Residents of an apartment block refused to leave, despite being offered supposedly generous financial incentives to do so. But their leverage was somewhat undermined by the fact that they lived at the end of the block.
So the demolition crew did what any self-respecting Chinese demolition crew would do – They demolished the rest of the building, leaving residents to live in the unstable and leaky remains.
Their economy may have come on in leaps and bounds. But China’s human rights still has a long way to go.
