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Q: Which is safer, China or the USA?
A recent discussion has prompted me to ask. I believe that a large portion of the crimes that affect your personal safety in China are omitted or censored in order to support the CCP's attempt to make China appear to be a "safe and harmoneous" society. Just because you don't hear about all the atrocities on the state controlled, nightly news, doesn't prove their lack of existence. I'm using the USA by comparison because of the hot button issues that surround violent crime. Again, my personal belief is that the freedom to report shouldn't be mistaken for evidence that China is safer. Domestic violence being one good example. What do you think?
Safety wise (and by the way, you could at least try to mention you are talking about violent crimes before your third or fourth sentence), China and the USA have - nothing - in common. Nothing at all.
Why, thus, this obsession of comparing every aspect of China with the USA?
My two cents on the topic, foreigners are safe in China, more than in a big deal of countries in the world. Most of the violent assaults reported in the press are either domestic conflicts, revenges, or random attacks from despaired/semi crazy individuals. The targets of random attacks are nearly always very weak ones (women, children), foreigners don't fit the profile.
The biggest danger in China is the complete lack of care people have when potentially endangering others, even when giving a shit would be a matter of half a second.
Scandinavian:
It is because China is trying to model itself to be the US, the Chinese dream is to move to the US. Even though no one in China really knows what that entails, and how far away from getting anywhere near to being like any western country (except for the fact the materialism has gone through the roof)
WCG:
Riri, admittance. I'm from the USA, so I was drawing a comparison between the two places I know about. I think that the USA still possesses a lot of influence on the world and China is also home to a lot of American citizens. I think it is an appropriate comparison. Please, feel free to talk about any country. Maybe Brazil would be a better country of comparison. I've never lived in Brazil, so I don't feel confident in my ability to talk about the things I'm not familiar with.
NoTime2Lose:
Depends how you define "safe". If we are talking about crime, China's cities are far safer than most cities in America. If we are talking about health it is no contest - America is a healthier place to live. Between smog that resembles oatmeal and tap water that gives farm animals cancer, and food tampering, living in China can knock 15 years off your life according to the recent 2013 WHO research.
As far as I remember from a recent infographic I saw, rating the world on different types of safety, e.g. crime, traffic, justice etc. Both China and US are pissing about on the 50-60th positions of the list.
There's two sides to being safe, I'm sick of the controls put on us at home, Cops, Municipality bylaws, we are over regulated and not safe from harrassment. When I came home 5 months ago, Customs seized my cell phone, computer and memory sticks, they claimed my things may not be suitable for import. There is nothing on them that is inappropriate, but after 5 months, I still can't get an answer if or when I'll get them back. I worry less about violent crime than I do about the powers that are supposed to protect us. I can't legally change a kitchen tap now,,,, no sh*t.
I feel safer in China and more liberated, I just have to watch out for drivers and where I step.
WCG:
I agree Ted, but I think safety and liberty (although they go hand in hand) are complimentary. I too feel safer in China with regards to being stabbed. But I'm trying to determine whether my perception of safety in China is just an illusion born from slanted reporting and inaccurate stats. As far as liberty is concerned, well that's a tough one. I think that enforcement is the key element in liberty. China doesn't enforce the laws as strictly as the USA does, but written law, I do believe the USA is still freer than China. I know that opening a business is a lot harder in China. Owning a home. You know, the attempt to establish a permanent residence and raise a family is harder as a foreigner in China. Free markets only go as far as consumer goods at the local corner store in China. Once you get into the big ticket items, you really are strictly prohibited. It is harder to accumulate wealth in China beyond a certain level unless you are a party member. Regarding social issues, well it depends on which side of the table you are on. I agree, family matters are off limits in China. However, discrimination and labor disputes are totally in favor of your employer here. Personal freedoms, well let me ask you, are you able to watch the TV programs you want without a VPN, or how about even accessing your email? It's a trade off. Sure I can walk down the street with an open beer, but the minute I start criticizing China, I'm beaten by the local police (a foreigner friend of mine experienced such). So, freedom to do what? It depends.
icnif77:
If you 'munch' shit on the floor with your shoe, is that health or safety hazard? Maybe, you can insure your(shoes)self against?
In my opinion, you're far safer in China... generally speaking. Money scams are nothing compared to getting shot in the head by thugs.
Lots of places like Chicago, Detroit, Fresno, L.A., are crime hotbeds.
But I guess it really depends on where you live in each country. I know I felt safer, even invulnerable, in China, so this is just my observation.
xinyuren:
I was born in Detroit. If you want to threaten me in China, please bring at least 3 guys or a gun. I feel very safe.
Hulk:
I've been to Detroit 4-5 times... wasn't really a pleasant experience. I really do feel safer in China, though... aside from a few different events.
xinyuren:
I recently went back to bury my grandmother. My old neighborhood looks like Beirut. Chinese are buying up the houses like crazy. I expect a Little China in Detroit in the next decade.
I guess it depends on what you are safe from:
violent crime- China safer
Food related - U.S. is safer
breathing the air - gotta give this one to the U.S.
Government corruption - toss up
Commuting - U.S. is safer
You can go on and on adding more criteria. To look at it logically you have to weight each area with the frequency in which the individual interacts or participates in each one.
For me:
Violent crime - rarely
Eating - almost daily
breathing air - whenever possible
government interaction - as infrequently as possible
commuting - 5 days a week.
For you 50/50 
and me? I am 200 % safer here in China so far...
When discussing safety i dont really think about liberties or pick pockets. Just, will a group of people punch me in the face and steal my shit? I lived in the quite safe vancouver suberbs and still feel mich safer here. No question. I cant remember a single time ive feared for my safety, im pretty sure its because im 100% confident that i could take a larger group of chinese. Maybe im a fool but i honestly feel that way so i feel super secure.
I think the powers that be arent hiding the crime on foreigners. I dont think they could. Foreigners in china will always talk. Even though this site is a super small sample size, the fact that we are wondering if theres a cover up should show us that it is quite rare.
WCG:
Is it odd to you how we only hear about the times that foreigners "fall to their death." Kind of strange to me, like foreigners have the inability to sustain from falling off ledges. It's happened a couple of times in the last several months. We're told, "the police are investigating." But actually, I have two friends who were violently robbed at knife point. One, apparently was tasered and robbed actually.
mike695ca:
Hell, hundreds of thousands of foreigners here, some of us gotta die sometimes right? I bet that "foreigner" from the story isnt the foreigner your thinking. Im fairly certain people from developed countried know better than to trust a railing in china and lean on one.
I guess after thinking about it some more, I'd say it also depends on how you view "safe." Long-term health effects? It's simple: the poisonous food and goods will hurt you more in the long run in the form of cancer, et al.
But violent-crime wise? There aren't very many violent criminals, which is astonishing given it's large population. I suspect this may have to do with CCP control - making the population as docile as possible.
Of course, there are always exceptions. Personally, I feel safer in America when it comes to food and the environment, but safer in China when it comes to violent crime.
WCG:
Violent crime that we hear of. Am I right? I mean, the stories we do hear of get about 1 & half minutes of coverage on TV and then poof! They're gone. Never hear about them. So, if you miss the news that evening, you're not in the loop. How many people heard of the guy that randomly hacked up the 2 yr old girl on the street in Chengdu a couple months back? Not much news about it. What about the Kunming knife attack. It was in the news for a day, maybe. Then, poof! No follow up. It's easy to forget it because it's not thrown in your face as much. We had police block off the intersection next to our house because someone got stabbed to death next door. But never heard anything about it after that day. Poof! Here come the "Harmony police" to wipe it down. Poof! Gone. I don't trust the stats.
I think it depends on which part of town you're in, whichever country you choose. There's always the sleazy part where crime rate is higher, therefore less safe. In the US and China, we have seen crazy nut cases going on a rampage and kill students, passers-by etc. In China, we've read about the guy throwing a baby on the pavement because the mother wouldn't give way, kids ears chopped off, fingers chopped off, the list goes on. In the US, it's the same, serial rapists, mothers killing their own babies, fathers shooting up entire families. So, which country is safer? Take your pick. I would say that if you choose to live in the violent part of town, then it's definitely less safe. Each country has their own crime rate, reported or otherwise. It's up to you to choose where you want to be.
