Across China: Suicide of WWII veteran soldier arouses concern for senior welfare in China

Lin Xieshun survived the fight against the Japanese during World War II. But, in times of peace, the 95-year-old took his own life.

On Nov. 14, Lin jumped out of his third-floor apartment in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan province, dying in the hospital despite treatment.

According to Mei Qing, a volunteer with the NGO Home of Veterans in Hunan, Lin had seven children, of whom five were in Changsha. Lin was living with a nanny, Luo Yuming, who was out shopping when the tragedy happened.

Yi Dewen, an official with the subdistrict where Lin lived, told Xinhua that someone saw the old man climbing up the balcony and tried to stop him.

Lin, a graduate from the Republic of China Military Academy, or the Whampoa Military academy, which produced many prestigious commanders in the second Sino-Japanese War, once served in the expeditionary army. He retired in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region before moving to Hunan.

He had been living with prostatitis, getting up to use the bathroom more than 10 times in a night, said Yi. His children were not close to him. "They seldom visited him," he said. "They never fulfilled their filial duty."

Luo recalls Lin behaving abnormally the evening before his death. "He had a bath, and changed his clothes," she said. "Maybe he was preparing for the suicide."

The case once again brought people's concern to the condition of the elderly in China.

"It shows the conundrum of elderly people, both psychologically and in terms of living," said Zhang Sining, a research fellow with the Academy of Social Sciences in Liaoning province, who has focused on the aging population for years.

Traditionally China's elderly people live with their children. In modern society, however, they tend to live alone. "They need care and family love," she said.

At the end of 2014, there were 212 million Chinese, or 15.5 percent of the population, aged 60 or above. This is expected to increase by around 10 million every year.

But China's social services for the aging population are not complete. "People have not realized the significance of psychological support for the elderly," she said.

She said the country is also short of professional medical workers to care for the elderly people.

"Perhaps we should improve training for volunteers, so they can help the elderly live a much better life," she said.

Others criticized the medical insurance services in China.

Since Lin retired in Xinjiang, he had to mail his medical receipts to the region to receive refunds, which was complicated and time-consuming.

"The tragedy has highlighted the need for the government to take action. They should facilitate elderly people in all aspects, who are already vulnerable," said an unnamed internet user on Xilu.com, China's biggest military news website.

Because of Lin's special identity, people also mourned for the poor living condition of veterans, who fought for the peace and prosperity enjoyed by China today.

"Please treat these veterans well," said user Anni Jiejie on Sina Weibo. "Better more welfare than medals."

The year 2015 marks 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and victory of the anti-Fascist war. China gave each veteran soldier a memorial medal and 5,000 yuan (781.5 U.S. dollars) as subsidy.

"But it is just a one time event," said Xie Weiyong, an official with the civil affairs department of Hunan province. "We should have a national policy on how to help these old heroes." Endi