A young man in China died a slow death after living in severe poverty. His story emerged just weeks after the Chinese Communist Party declared China as poverty-free.
He endured severe poverty throughout his life. Medical problems made him too weak to work in labor, and he couldn’t afford to get an education. With no other options, he took up posting videos online in hopes of making a living—similar to YouTubers He called himself “Ink Tea.”
Last year, Chinese state media claimed that the country’s entire population had been lifted out of poverty. Reports went on to say China had achieved a miracle in human history.
Ink Tea’s case isn’t unprecedented. Another similar tragedy struck last year when a young Chinese woman passed away after living on pennies a day. She died from heart and kidney problems after eating too little food for five years. She was so malnourished, at one point she weighed about only 40 pounds.