In recent years, a noticeable trend in Chinese society is that an increasing number of people feel uneasy. Rich people may not all be the smartest, but their sensitivity to risk and environmental changes is far greater than that of ordinary people. When they begin to vote with their feet on a large scale, it often signals the emergence of some deep-seated problems.

This trend did not form overnight. About ten years ago, the Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing began selling his assets in mainland China and Hong Kong on a large scale, which was seen as a significant indicator at the time.

Over the past three years, this trend has intensified. According to reports from immigration consulting firms, the number of high-net-worth individuals leaving China has sharply increased. Data shows that 13,800 high-net-worth individuals left China in 2023, and this number is projected to reach 15,200 in 2024. In these three years, China has become the country with the most significant loss of wealthy individuals globally. Behind this phenomenon, what is being lost is not just talent and the rich, but also precious capital.

Why are the rich in a hurry to leave? Because they sense that a "perfect storm" is brewing in China. This storm is composed of three main factors.

First is the economic factor. China's economy is in a continuous downturn, which directly impacts people's assets and their ability to earn money. When the economic outlook is bleak and assets are shrinking, people will naturally seek safer places with more potential for growth.

Second is the geopolitical factor. China's current relations with countries like the United States, Japan, and the Philippines are increasingly tense, and the situation in the Taiwan Strait is full of uncertainty. This tense external environment makes many people feel a strong sense of insecurity.

Third, and most crucial, is the domestic political factor. In recent years, people have witnessed how the iron fist of policy can destroy entire industries overnight, wiping out the hard-earned wealth of many private entrepreneurs. This unpredictability makes the wealthy worry that they will be the next target to be "fattened for the slaughter." This is a rational fear that compels them to find a way out for their assets and their families.

These wealthy individuals leaving China are primarily heading to the United States, Canada, Singapore, and Japan. These countries share a common characteristic: a sound rule of law, a stable civil society, strong protection for private property, and a relatively clean political environment. Together, these factors create a sense of certainty that can provide a predictable future for individuals and their assets. This is precisely what is scarce in current Chinese society and is the core value—a sense of security—that the wealthy are willing to leave their homeland to pursue.

Beyond practical considerations, there are deeper cultural reasons behind this phenomenon. Many people mistake unconditional obedience and loyalty to power as China's "tradition," but this is actually a misunderstanding.

China's true political tradition can be traced back to the origins of Confucian thought. Mencius, a Confucian philosopher from the 4th century BC, long ago proposed the idea that "the people are the most important element in a nation; the spirits of the land and grain are the next; the sovereign is the lightest." This means that the well-being of the people is the foundation of the state, and the position of the ruler is, in fact, the least important. If a ruler fails to act in the people's interest, the people have the right to leave or even overthrow him.

The late renowned historian Yu Yingshi also profoundly discussed this point. He pointed out that in Chinese tradition, the loyalty of intellectuals and the scholar-official class to the state and the ruler was conditional. The saying "a good bird chooses the tree to nest in; a wise minister chooses the lord to serve" illustrates this principle. Loyalty is owed to the "Dao" (the Way) and the people, not to a specific ruler or regime. If a ruler deviates from the "Dao," leaving him is a morally and intellectually correct choice.

Therefore, the "run" of China's wealthy today is not a betrayal of tradition, but rather the practice of an ancient survival wisdom. When they feel their freedom, property, and dignity are threatened, and they cannot change the situation through channels within the system, choosing to leave to find a place that offers basic protections is a rational act of self-preservation. This is not just for themselves, but also for seeking a more certain future for the next generation.