Opinion | Giving up seats to elderly should be an easy decision in China
- Chris McMillan
- Jun 25, 2025
- 1 min read
South China Morning Post
21st June 2025
Opinion | Giving up seats to elderly should be an easy decision in China
Chinese civilisation is deeply rooted in the virtues of sympathy, respect and love towards the elderly. For instance, Confucian teachings promote the idea that filial piety is the root of virtue and place great emphasis on the moral duty of the younger generation to care for and honour their elders.
This long-standing cultural ideal has helped shape familial relationships and defined broader societal norms. Needless to say, there are numerous examples of preserving filial piety. Yet in today’s fast-paced and increasingly individualistic society, these values are too often forgotten or neglected.
Two recent videos have gone viral on Chinese social media and reignited public debate about the possible erosion of moral values in China. In the first video, an elderly woman asked a young woman to vacate a courtesy seat on a subway. Rather than showing empathy or understanding, several nearby young passengers criticised the elderly woman, claiming she should avoid public transport during rush hour altogether because young people need to have a seat to rest after a day’s hard work.
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