The Yi Yan Network, established by Freedom House in November 2022, recently released a comprehensive report on Chinese protests for the second quarter of this year. It highlights the top 10 cities with the most economic-related protests, revealing a significant concentration of unrest in Guangdong Province. Shenzhen tops the list with at least 306 protests, followed by other major cities like Xi'an, Sanya, Dongguan, Zhengzhou, Zhuhai, Qingdao, Zhongshan, Guangzhou, and Huizhou.
 Shenzhen, a bustling metropolis known for its tech industry and rapid economic growth, has seen 306 protests in the past two years. Xi'an follows with 233 protests. Lan Shu, a US-based current affairs commentator, noted that Guangdong and Jiangsu are China's top GDP-producing provinces. The high frequency of economic rights protection struggles in Guangdong highlights two major issues: the severe impact on China's export-oriented economy and the overall challenging situation facing the Chinese economy. 
 Six of the top 10 cities with the most protests are in Guangdong Province. Commentators believe that strict administrative regulations on the numerous migrant workers in these cities exacerbate the unrest. Huang Pengxiao, a former Taiwan National Assembly representative, emphasized that diminishing job opportunities and non-compliance with Chinese labour regulations, particularly regarding compensation, are fuelling worker dissatisfaction and protests.
 Protests recorded on yiyan.com, supported by photos or videos, include significant events such as the strike at Jingyan KG Technology Co. LTD in COFCO Industrial Park, Shiyan Street, Baoan District, Shenzhen, on June 13th, 2024. Workers protested against the company's decision to relocate the factory to Zhongshan without compensating them. Wage arrears are a widespread issue in China, with many business owners unable to pay wages due to lost capital and businesses, leading to significant worker dissatisfaction.
 Freedom House initiated a research project two years ago to systematically collect, organize, and analyze data on Chinese rallies and protests. They gathered samples from 500 prefecture-level cities, examining various aspects such as methods, characteristics, and causes of the protests. Analysis reports are regularly published on overseas dissident websites. Due to strict public opinion control, much information cannot be released, and the outside world remains unaware of the full extent of the protests.
 Lanshu stated in an interview that many protests are not reported unless they reach a certain scale, suggesting that the actual number of protests is much higher than recorded. Huang Pengxiao pointed out that strict control over information flow in China makes it impossible to effectively connect and count information between many regions. Economic interests and life safety directly affected by issues such as unpaid wages or housing problems compel people to protest.
 Huang Pengxiao explained that some economic problems facing China today cannot be covered up. This situation is unfortunate for many Chinese workers and office workers, as it is not merely a temporary or individual phenomenon but an overall and long-term issue. The commentary suggests that if Guangdong is so seriously affected, other provinces are likely facing similar problems.
 From changing the youth unemployment rate standard to relaxing the identification standard for recent graduates, the Chinese Communist Party authorities have frequently acted to cover up the soaring unemployment rate. However, the truth will eventually come out. Topics related to unemployment have become popular on Chinese online social platforms, attracting widespread attention and resonance from netizens.
 Many Chinese netizens have shared videos on platforms like Douyin, WeChat, Kuaishou, and Xiaohongshu about layoffs, job search struggles, and workplace issues. For instance, on November 4th, 2024, a woman tearfully recounted losing her job unexpectedly. Similarly, a recent Wuhan graduate, jobless for over four months, pretended to work by sitting in the library daily to avoid alarming his family. Wang Hihong, after 27 years of hard work in Shanghai, was laid off, expressing his deep sense of uncertainty and loss about the future. These stories highlight the widespread economic challenges faced by many in China.
 China's unemployment rate has remained high in recent years. The youth unemployment rate for those aged 16 to 24 reached 21.3% in June 2023. The Beijing authorities announced they would suspend the release of this data and revise the statistical standards before resuming data publication. However, the rate was still as high as 18.8% in August, setting a new high for the year.
 In response to the soaring youth unemployment, the National Bureau of Statistics of the Communist Party of China explained that the negative impact of current changes in the external environment is intensifying. Domestic demand remains insufficient, and economic recovery faces many difficulties and challenges.
 In mid-September, a 24-year-old physics master's graduate, unable to secure employment for an extended period, settled for a handyman role at Suzhou Affiliated Middle School of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. This development stirred extensive discussion online in China.
 Senior Financial Commentator Kai Shenyang noted that China's unemployment issue has yet to hit its lowest point, predicting it will worsen. He remarked that now is not the time for government economic intervention, given businesses' current reluctance to invest and the lack of viable investment channels.
 Economic-related protests in Chinese cities highlight deep-rooted economic issues, necessitating significant reforms and a commitment to transparency and accountability from both the government and businesses.