A close friend of Mocha published an online obituary that set off a wave of sympathy on the Chinese internet. In one of the last posts on his online video-gaming channel, on December 29, Chen wrote: “I really want to eat strawberries, but can’t eat anything with this sickness … plus, they are too expensive.” Photo: Bilibili A close friend of Mocha published an online obituary that set off a wave of sympathy on the Chinese internet. In one of the last posts on his online video-gaming channel, on December 29, Chen wrote: “I really want to eat strawberries, but can’t eat anything with this sickness … plus, they are too expensive.” Photo: Bilibili
A close friend of Mocha published an online obituary that set off a wave of sympathy on the Chinese internet. In one of the last posts on his online video-gaming channel, on December 29, Chen wrote: “I really want to eat strawberries, but can’t eat anything with this sickness … plus, they are too expensive.” Photo: Bilibili
People & Culture /  Social Welfare

Young man’s death sheds light on life of China’s poor, and prompts an outpouring of sympathy – and questions

  • A 22-year-old video gamer is dead and his friend, and commenters online, want to know how China failed him
  • Known as Mocha, he left haunting posts online showing his worsening health, descent into poverty and growing hunger. Chinese have rallied to him in death

Topic |   Poverty in China
Qin Chen
Qin Chen in Beijing

Updated: 11:31am, 1 Feb, 2021

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A close friend of Mocha published an online obituary that set off a wave of sympathy on the Chinese internet. In one of the last posts on his online video-gaming channel, on December 29, Chen wrote: “I really want to eat strawberries, but can’t eat anything with this sickness … plus, they are too expensive.” Photo: Bilibili A close friend of Mocha published an online obituary that set off a wave of sympathy on the Chinese internet. In one of the last posts on his online video-gaming channel, on December 29, Chen wrote: “I really want to eat strawberries, but can’t eat anything with this sickness … plus, they are too expensive.” Photo: Bilibili
A close friend of Mocha published an online obituary that set off a wave of sympathy on the Chinese internet. In one of the last posts on his online video-gaming channel, on December 29, Chen wrote: “I really want to eat strawberries, but can’t eat anything with this sickness … plus, they are too expensive.” Photo: Bilibili
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