"Son, I'll definitely find you" Mother fighting the kidnapping of a child February 16 12:00

"If I can spend three days with my son, I will give him the rest of my life without hesitation."

There is a mother who has been searching for her only son with pain for 23 years.

She has been kidnapped for money and has been missing for a long time.

In China, which is facing social distortions due to the one-child policy and rapid economic development, kidnapping of children has become a major crime as a familiar crime.

Last year, police authorities launched a large-scale investigation project, and activities using SNS have also been successful.

However, in front of the mother, there was a wall of time and an unexpected situation that "I do not want to undergo a DNA test" even if a young man who may be a son is found.

(Saki Fukui, Director, Political Economy and International Program Department)

My beloved son was suddenly robbed, but the criminal was found ...

There is a woman who broadcasts live SNS on a daily basis in a room in a condominium in Shanghai.

Tou Ika, 51 years old.

She has more than 100,000 followers, but she doesn't sing or introduce merchandise.

She is trying to gather information about the missing child across China and bring it to her parents.

She is also the victim of the kidnapping of her only son.

In the summer of 23 years ago, Wang Lei (4 years old at the time), the only son of Tang and Wong Jie, was kidnapped.

It was only 30 minutes when Mr. Tang went to deliver her forgotten items to her husband, leaving his son at a home appliance store run by the couple.

Mr. Tang is said to have been informed of this by phone from her store.

Kara Jinhua

"When I was on the bus, I got a call from the store. My son didn't come back. Everyone was confused." I panicked because I didn't know what happened. rice field"

Subsequent investigations revealed that it was a store employee who was kidnapped.

He was a 20-year-old man who came to Shanghai from a rural area in southern China.

The criminal told the interview at that time that the kidnapping of Wang Lei was "for gold".

It is said that he thought of kidnapping Wang Lei because his parents' house was poor and he couldn't make as much money as he expected when he came to Shanghai.

The criminal stated that he "sold Wang Lei to an intermediary for 3,000 yuan," but the police could not find it and the large-scale search was terminated.

"Child abduction business" brought about by the distortion of "one-child policy"

Why are child kidnappings for gold so frequent in China?

It is pointed out that the background is the "one-child policy" that started around 1980.

If you do not follow the policy and give birth to your second child, you will be fined three to six times your annual income.

As a result, the need for "if you can only have one, you want a boy who will take care of your old age even if you pay for it, rather than a girl who will marry you someday" has spread mainly in rural areas.

In addition, it is said that the light punishment for those who bought abducted children is also a factor.

According to the Chinese Criminal Code, "the act of purchasing abducted children or women is punishable by imprisonment with work for a definite term of up to 3 years, criminal detention or imprisonment."

However, at the same time, "the punishment will be lightened for those who do not abuse the bought children and do not interfere with their rescue. Also, if the bought children wish, they will return to their original place of residence. For those who do not interfere, the sentence can be lightened or the punishment can be reduced. "

Gradually, brokers and traffickers are rampant in trying to do business with couples who think they want children even if they buy them.

I even made a Chinese word, "Human sales child = a person who kidnaps and sells children."

A police officer involved in the investigation of the kidnapping case points out that "a large kidnapping group has a clear division of roles, such as buying, transporting, and selling children."

In addition, the one-child policy has become a harsh “shackle” for victims of abducted children.

Tang, whose son was kidnapped, was not allowed to have another child at that time unless he filed a death report for Wang Lei.

Tang, who believes that his son is alive, chose to continue searching for Wang Lei without having the next child.

For the past 23 years, Mr. Tang has traveled all over China and has posted more than 10,000 posters of the inquirer.

When I disclosed my phone number, most of the calls were fraudulent calls saying "I know my son's whereabouts. If you want me to tell you, I will transfer thousands of yuan."

Even so, at that time, he felt like he was hungry for straw, and he was betrayed by making many transfers.

An unexpected wall rejected as "I don't want to see my real parents"

Mr. Tang started live streaming of SNS two years ago to collect information about his son.

Many consultations were received from people who said, "I am also looking for a child," and 12 pairs of parents and children reunited through SNS.

However, it is also hitting an unexpected wall.

Last November, one of my followers provided me with information that "I feel like my once kidnapped friend looks like Wang Lei."

A man who was kidnapped as a child when he answered a phone call from Mr. Tang.

"Do you remember anything about your real parents?" Asked Mr. Tang, "I don't remember my real parents. I only remember when they were sold in the market, and my adoptive parents deal with a lot of small money. I was handing it over to. "

Mr. Tang offered to arrange for DNA testing.

However, the man's reply was unexpected for Mr. Tang.

A man who was kidnapped as a child

"What's wrong with having no parents? You can get anything if you make an effort yourself. When you parents take your eyes off Whether someone kidnapped me or sold me in financial trouble, it's all my parents' responsibility. "

Mr. Tang also replied with a strong voice only at this time.

Mr. Tang Hua

"Your idea is wrong. In the age when you were kidnapped, many children were kidnapped and sold by traffickers. Do you know? Parents who don't need their own children No. Absolutely not. There are people who see children as a product. It is the traffickers who robbed you of your innocent and enjoyable childhood. "

In the end, the man repeatedly said he wasn't interested in his real parents and didn't accept the DNA test.

In fact, it is not uncommon for abducted children to be reluctant to return to their birth parents.

I'm afraid that my relationship with my adoptive parents will be broken, and I don't want to make waves because I'm already an adult and have my own family.

Even if Mr. Tang really finds Wang Lei someday, he is worried that he may be told the same thing.

A national project finally found a clue

Last year, there was a big turning point in searching for Tang's son.

Police officials have started a large-scale project called "Reunion Operation".

In addition to developing a database based on DNA testing, we have also introduced face recognition using AI in earnest.

Between January and November, 8307 people reunited with their families, state media reports.

Some parents and children reunited for the first time in 58 years, and some parents and children became models for the movie "Dearest Child," which depicts the kidnapping of children in China.

The kidnapping case of Wang Lei was recognized as a serious case in the "reunion operation", and a police re-investigation was carried out.

As a result, it was found that there is a young man who has similar physical characteristics and back appearance to Wang Lei.

Mr. Tang flew to Liuzhou, about 1700 kilometers away from Shanghai, to have the young man undergo a DNA test.

If the young man was reluctant, he wanted to persuade him directly.

Mr. Tang, who met the young man for the first time, expressed a special feeling.

Mr. Kara Jinhua

"It's cool. It's a bit like when my husband was young. It's warm and bright, and it's like Wang Lei in my memory."

A young man who has a good relationship with his adoptive parents and feels gratitude.

He was wondering if he would get a DNA test for several hours.

Even so, he cooperated with the blood sampling with the desire of Mr. Tang to see his child.

After that, the two had a short conversation.

Mr. Tang was staring at her love for the young man who told me, "I haven't got married yet, but she is."

However, the appraisal result was revealed the following month.

The young man was not Wang Lei.

Believing in the day I can meet again, my mother keeps searching

It is said that the number of kidnappings in China is decreasing due to the abolition of the one-child policy in 2016 and the introduction of surveillance cameras and numerous security cameras in urban areas.

Still, the sadness of parents who have lost their children is endless.

Mr. Tang is determined to continue searching until Wang Lei is found.

Mr. Kara Jinhua

"Some people finally found their child over 30 years, 40 years, 50 years, 60 years. I have only been searching for 22 years. I believe that I will definitely meet again."

(* This interview I interviewed last year)

China largely regulates the lives of each and every one of them through the policies of the Communist Party, such as the "one-child policy" and "reform and opening up."

While creating the driving force for dynamic change, it has brought about various social distortions such as economic disparity and demographic structure.

The families torn by the darkness of society, "kidnapping children," still live in countless numbers.

We would like to continue the interview until the day when Mr. Tang and Mr. Wang Lei can meet again.

Saki Fukui , Director, Political Economy

and

International Program Department

Joined in 2011

After working at Fukuoka Bureau, News Watch 9, etc.

[Video 9 minutes 10 seconds]

From "Tears of the Incident" broadcast on December 11, 2021