The 25-centimetre gap separating China from a truly civilised society
The recent incident of Taiwanese singer Zheng Zhihua at Shenzhen Airport has brought to light the struggles of disabled people in China. Academic Zhang Tiankan believes that their voices must be heard and more needs to be done to ensure accessibility, only then can China call itself a civilised society.
In a Weibo post on 25 October, disabled Taiwanese singer Zheng Zhihua slammed Shenzhen Airport for its inhumane attitude towards disabled people. He stated that despite being raised on a lift vehicle, his wheelchair could not enter the airplane as there was still a 25-centimetre gap in height between the lift platform and the aircraft door. His legs were unable to cross the cabin door.
He claimed that the lift vehicle operator refused to raise the platform any higher, and watched coldly as he “rolled and crawled” to board the plane.
Distress of the disabled people
On 26 October, surveillance footage of Zheng boarding the plane was released, showing a staff member assisting him by supporting his leg as he entered the aircraft. Public opinion shifted and Zheng was lambasted online. Some people accused Zheng of “exaggerating the incident”, which only hurt the staff who assisted him.
On the same day, Zheng took to Weibo to say that the incident at Shenzhen Airport was not an isolated one. He recounted that Nanjing Airport wanted to X-ray his prosthetic limb, Xinjiang Airport insisted that his crutches needed to be checked in, and Shanghai Airport spent over half an hour inspecting his supporting frame.
These complaints were met with some backlash from netizens, who accused Zheng of acting “high and mighty” in criticising the services of Chinese airports.
... civilisation means allowing people like Zheng to board with ease, rather than have to "roll and crawl", and they certainly should not be subjected to online harassment.
On 27 October, perhaps due to the immense pressure, Zheng issued a statement apologising for his choice of words. He clarified, “I apologise for my use of the term ‘rolled and crawled’. It was a result of my frustration from trying to board the plane. The staff member who assisted me with my wheelchair provided excellent service, even helping to support my leg into the cabin.
“I extend my gratitude to all the service personnel involved and hope this does not paint them in a negative light. The attention this incident has drawn to the interests of minority groups is more significant than my personal feelings, and I leave it to society for further discussion.”
The Zheng incident is essentially a reflection of society’s attitude and approach towards disabled individuals. While disabled people have profound personal experiences, it is about whether there is societal awareness and action in creating an environment that is inclusive and accessible for them, ultimately creating a welcoming society. If this can be attained, it is an indication that society has reached a basic level of civilisation.
However, Chinese society still has a long way to go to be civilised; it has neither created an inclusive and accessible environment that allows disabled people to function in an unencumbered manner, nor be treated with kindness. Simply put, civilisation means allowing people like Zheng to board with ease, rather than have to “roll and crawl”, and they certainly should not be subjected to online harassment.
If a large crowd was spectating, Zheng may have felt like a burden to society. This is the type of behaviour that harms Zheng and others with disabilities...
Even though surveillance footage showed that Zheng did not physically roll and crawl to board the airplane, he might have genuinely felt more distressed than if he were to have done so — he was still dragged into the cabin, rather than entering smoothly by handling his own wheelchair.
If a large crowd was spectating, Zheng may have felt like a burden to society. This is the type of behaviour that harms Zheng and others with disabilities, and hence why Zheng described his experience as having to “roll and crawl” — besides being a metaphor, it also conveyed a sense of helplessness and even insult to his self-esteem.
China’s gap from a civilised society
Respecting disabled people is not just about creating an environment where they can live and work unencumbered, but also about understanding and considering their psychological needs. This means being able to live and work independently without troubling others. In terms of public facilities, although the environment in China has improved, there is still a way to go when it comes to accessibility and respect for disabled people.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Air Transport Association have established regulations on wheelchair access to aircraft cabins. Boarding without having to leave the wheelchair is the internationally preferred standard, and airports should prioritise wheelchair users boarding via jet bridges or lift vehicles if these equipment are available. Only when these options are not available should manual assistance be considered, and it must be done so with the passenger’s consent. Airlines need to inquire in advance about the passenger’s disability and range of mobility to arrange the appropriate equipment.
Although a lift vehicle was provided, there was a 25-centimetre gap in height from the aircraft door — this is the gap from being civilised.
Shenzhen Airport did not arrange a jet bridge for Zheng, and instead used a remote stand for boarding. Although a lift vehicle was provided, there was a 25-centimetre gap in height from the aircraft door — this is the gap from being civilised.
The “Technical Requirements for Safe Docking of Aircraft Ground Service Equipment” issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in November 2024 also clearly stated that boarding vehicles for passengers with reduced mobility should have an effective and controllable mechanism to accurately align the boarding platform and guardrail with the aircraft door, in order to ensure passenger safety. This 25-centimetre gap could also be addressed by installing a ramp to assist wheelchairs to pass through. However, such facilities are still lacking at Chinese airports.
Social public facilities and public service organisations, including airports, public buses and city management offices, should be made accessible for disabled people as an essential aspect of civilisation. From the psychological perspective of disabled people, the ability to rely on accessible facilities without troubling others allows them to live and work independently, boosting their self-confidence and eliminating any sense of shame from having to rely on others. This would contribute to the enhancement and creation of civilisation for society as a whole.
In some countries, accessibility for disabled people is not just about boarding at airports; even buses are specially equipped for wheelchair access. When a bus arrives at a stop, the driver would lower the boarding steps, allowing wheelchair users to board independently. Other public areas have wheelchair-accessible entrances that can also be used by people pushing prams.
All these facilities not only make it convenient for disabled people, it also benefits others and society as a whole, while simultaneously enhancing a society’s level of civilisation.
Haruki Murakami once said, “Between a high, solid wall and an egg that breaks against it, I will always stand on the side of the egg.”
Listening to voices of disabled people
The incident involving Zheng also reflects the harsh demands placed on vulnerable groups by Chinese society, by suggesting that Zheng’s account of his experience at Shenzhen Airport was neither objective nor rational. There are two perspectives to consider in this matter. First, Zheng’s description was metaphorical, intended to express his genuine emotions, which is why he used the phrase “rolled and crawled”.
On the other hand, as Haruki Murakami once said, “Between a high, solid wall and an egg that breaks against it, I will always stand on the side of the egg.” Perceived alongside able-bodied individuals and the institutions responsible for public facilities, people like Zheng are the weaker party. Therefore, the proper response should be to calmly listen to their voices and work on improving their environment, rather than subjecting them to online harassment.
