Pizhou phenomenon a threat to harmony

Media reports reveal serious problems in rural construction and development in Pizhou city, Jiangsu province. Tracts of arable land have been expropriated causing violent conflicts, reflecting the lack of values among local leaders, says an article in China Youth Daily. Excerpts:

Pizhou city in Jiangsu province has been facing serious land expropriation problems, prompting some scholars to coin a new term, the "Pizhou phenomenon".

The phenomenon has caused serious upheaval in the lives of the city's residents. Many reports described Pizhou as a successful example of development, making the local officials believe what they had been doing was right. But in fact, what they have done reflects chaos and the loss values.