Last year in Beijing during the Olympics, the g/f and I saw a group of people encircling two men abuse another - not really beating. Now this was in the area where all the locals were trying to scalp tickets. They did an ocassional slap, punch, tug but it
really wasn't like a thrashing. As I got closer, I noticed the man being beaten wasn't trying to escape nor felt as in peril as I would have been.
Then one guy really cocked his arm, said something and let the victim eat a knuckle sandwich. Before that, I started with the why doesn't someone do something as I tried to get nearer. The g/f told me to butt out. When the punch happened, I screamed why don't they call the police. When I tried to jump in, someone grabbed my shirt, stopped me and said, "they are the police and he's a scalper who ripped off a customer"
OK, arrest the dude, a public flogging is uncalled for. The g/f said this is quite common.