Following Natural and Mining Disasters, Chinese State Media Demands Shift Away from 'Reactive Over Proactive' Tendencies

Central News Agency, Taipei, May 24. In response to recent casualties from heavy rains across China and a gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County, Shanxi Province, which killed at least 82 people on the 22nd, the People's Daily published a commentary today. It explicitly directed local authorities and units to thoroughly reverse the tendency to 'prioritize development over safety and reactive measures over proactive ones,' and to 'solidify safety during development and seek development within safety.' The commentary, titled 'Keep the String of Safety Production Taut at All Times,' stated that every accident serves as a wake-up call. It urged all regions and departments to learn from these lessons, strengthen 'bottom-line thinking' and 'extreme thinking,' and keep the string of safety production taut. The article also emphasized that during the current flood season, units must strengthen emergency duty and carry out flood prevention and disaster relief work effectively. It pointed out that it is crucial to reverse the tendency to prioritize development over safety, using 'comprehensive preparation' to deal with 'potential risks.' The article stated that units must enhance the concept that 'hidden dangers are accidents,' focusing on source prevention and systematic governance. Only by thoroughly investigating risks and strengthening management across the entire chain and time frame can problems like 'lack of recognition, lack of foresight, and lack of management' be prevented. Finally, it concluded that by holding onto the responsibility of safety production, one can protect the happiness of thousands of families. According to official reports, the explosion at the Liushenyu mine, operated by Tongzhou Group, has resulted in 82 deaths, 2 missing, and 128 injuries as of 11 PM on the 23rd, making it the worst mining disaster in China in 17 years.