Security Theater, Chinese Style
Hordes of people (giving an almost literal meaning to the saying 人山人海 – People mountain, people sea) crowded around me, all pressing forward to an unseen destination.
They were headed toward a worn out woman who waved her scanner and inspected passengers with the enthusiasm of a heroin addict.
Of course, no one took anything out of their pockets, and the bags that were put into the scanning machine rolled through without anyone taking so much as a glance at the X-Ray output to the side.
In my right pocket was an iPod, in my left a cell phone, and around my waist a steel belt buckle. Did any of these set off the least of alarms?
If they had, I wouldn’t be writing about how bad Chinese security theater is.
It was far from the first time. The funniest was when they insisted on scanning my relatively small satchel bag in the Shenzhen metro, but didn’t bother checking the sealed computer box I was carrying, which was several times larger, and could conceivably have been carrying an explosive device.
With the exception of airports, every security detection measure I’ve seen in China has been for show, a show that would only convince the most gullible that they were safer in any way. Even customs is usually a half-hearted affair, with little attention paid to those going through it, or to the bags on the machines.
I don’t think security measures are worth the costs (and if a would be terrorist wanted to carry out an attack, there are plenty of other ways to do so than to bring metal onto a plane or train), but having completely fake security measures is a double slap in the face. Taxes and time are paid for a show that doesn’t fool anyone.
How about you? What do you think of the security scanning measures in China?
I agree. Extensive security measures pre-flight are a farce. You are lucky in China where though it is a show, they don’t give a hoot.
In America, it is a bigger show (many times a hands on pat down touching junk show) and the people do very much give a hoot. Laugh at them or try to sneak a metal buckle through and you may easily be detained, reprimanded, or even caused to miss a flight.
America, land of the afraid and home of the slave.
Justin – totally agree. At least you’re not treated like a criminal if you accidentally violate some ridiculous security regulation.
All security measures are to show people that government is DOING SOMETHING.
Other than that, it really hard to stop terrorist if they want to blow up something.
They are not stupid.
They will not simply try to enter the plane with in a tank…
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ha! you think any of them actually pay taxes? no but seriously I agree, its just a show. Just for fun try and get a bottle of water through security on an international flight. I do this everytime. I’ll put it in my shoulder bag, and then scan it. The first time I did it was by accident. Then when they asked me to throw it away, I took it out, opened it and drank some, then said ”水吧“ like they were idiots, and they 好好好ed me away. I’m not 1 in 4 attempts.
It is a bit pity that I could not find any time record of your posts when I went through the post list. I left China six years ago and could not follow closely with the fast changing Chinese community and get a deep understanding of the society as you. Thank you Jeremy for your sharing, I really enjoy reading your posts.
I was shocked when I came through the SZ/HK border, and the guards didn’t even spare me a glance.
I had a big backpack on and a fat grocery sack in my hand. I was, in fact, bringing semi-contraband (read: produce and wine) back into the mainland.
The security theater definitely frightened me on the way in, though — maybe that’s the whole point.
To be honest, years ago the airport security was also a joke when exiting into arrivals at Beijing airport.
There was quite literally no one checking or even standing around pretending to care. You could just walk through.
I thought it was a one time thing, yet three times over the years it was exactly the same.
It’s tightened up now, but in those days you could have brought a camel through and nothing would have happened.