Thugs-for-hire is actually a common tactic for suppressing dissent in China [1] [2], and was used in the 2014 Umbrella protest [3]. [1]: https://www.researchga

Thugs-for-hire is actually a common tactic for suppressing dissent in China [1] [2], and was used in the 2014 Umbrella protest [3]. [1]: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322488668_Thugs_and_Outsourcing_of_State_Repression_in_China https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322488668_Thugs_and... [2]: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/thugsforhire-subcontracting-of-state-coercion-and-state-capacity-in-china/C53871B8B259B893E1D0B4E1985B764E https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-poli... [3]: https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/11/04/chinese-govt-need-hire-thugs-exert-social-control/ https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/11/04/chinese-govt-need-hire...