China’s Local Finances in Difficulty; Henan Police’s Extortionate Conduct Is Particularly Shameless

On August 15, 2026, this outlet learned that Ren Peiyu, a resident of Shierlipu Village, Yulong Town, Xingyang City, Henan Province, publicly reported on July 29, 2026, through the 12389 and 12388 discipline-inspection reporting hotlines, that Zhang Yongchuang, director of the Yulong Town Police Station in Xingyang City, had extorted 2,000 yuan from him, and publicly posted a screenshot showing the amount transferred.

Six days later, Director Zhang Yongchuang instructed nine police officers to travel to Hebei to make an interprovincial arrest. They beat and abducted Ren Peiyu, who was in Chengde, Hebei, seeking payment for a construction project. They showed no identification or legal grounds during the incident. The arrest operation originated from Director Zhang Yongchuang’s belief that Ren Peiyu had gone beyond the scope of surveillance and intended to travel to Beijing to petition at a higher level and accuse him of unlawful extortion; he therefore used public power to arrest Ren across provincial borders.

On December 8, 2024, Ren Peiyu, whose own rights and interests had been infringed, reported the matter to the Yulong Town Police Station and sought help. After receiving the report, Zhang Yongchuang, as station director, not only failed to assist Ren Peiyu, who had reported the matter and sought help, but instead instructed the on-duty officers to beat and injure him, illegally use handcuffs as restraints, restrict his personal freedom, and detain him at the police station. Station Director Zhang Yongchuang personally intervened and demanded that Ren Peiyu, whose personal freedom had been restricted, transfer 2,000 yuan to his private account before allowing him to leave the police station. During this period, no decision on punishment or any official receipt for a fine or confiscated funds was issued.

On August 12, 2026, under pressure from Ren Peiyu’s uninterrupted public online reports, Director Zhang Yongchuang asked the whistleblower to settle the matter privately through a third-party intermediary, saying that he was willing to return the 2,000 yuan he had extorted through illegal means.