‘The capital’s moat’: thousands forced from homes in China’s Hebei province to ease flooding in Beijing

Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of the nationalist tabloid Global Times, was similarly critical.

“We should not have the mindset of sacrificing anyone for the sake of protecting anyone, or treating one place as a moat for another,” he said on his Weibo account.

Since Tropical Storm Doksuri made landfall late last week, the Chinese capital has reported its heaviest rainfall in 140 years, with 11 people dying in Beijing and nine in Hebei.

Rainstorm warnings for Hebei have been lifted but Beijing issued a new yellow alert – the third-highest in the four-level system on Thursday afternoon, and flooding remains a danger for both areas.

The department said it had “opened up” seven zones in low-lying areas to store diverted floodwaters.

The zones are a central part of China’s flood control system and Hebei is home to 13 of the 98 zones throughout the country.

Neighbouring Tianjin also activated a flood storage area in Jinghai district, telling residents to move out by midday on Thursday.

“By activating the flood storage area, we have sacrificed ourselves and made contributions to the country and the people of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. History will remember our achievements,” the district said in an open letter to residents.