Originally Posted by
jiejie
Were you living in Kunming in 2014 when this happened?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Kunming_attack
It was horrific, and I think changed usually easy-going Kunming forever. And had ripple-on effect on public transport security procedures at other locations in China as well.
Security is always on extra alert and more overbearing in the month before a Party Congress or other major event (Olympics, APEC Conference, etc). In Beijing before the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC (2009), security went to all businesses along the main military parade route and closed businesses, and either temporarily moved out residents living in overlooking apartments or sealed their windows shut. Now THAT's going a bit crazy but subsequent attacks around China (including 2013 in Tiananmen Square) reveal that the Chinese aren't entirely off base.
It is the times we live in. And as individuals who need to take public transport local and intercity, there is not much that can be done except build the extra time into our schedules.
I question the efficacy of the security theater. After that guy set off what was basically a bottle rocket at the airport in Shanghai, now to enter Chinese airports, you have to wait in a security line to be checked for explosives. That line is a new choke point that is vulnerable for attacks. I argue the same thing about the extensive security checks to enter sporting events in the US, in today's mass shooting culture. I'd love to wear my shoes through TSA.
I've seen security guards asleep at the X-ray machines in Chinese subways. When I lived in Shanghai, you could quickly walk by the X-ray machine without dropping your bag (unless it was a roller board suitcase), and 90% of the time the guard let you through.
It is theater and job creation.