The CCP has strengthened its propaganda efforts, not only by increasing the number of central and local spokespersons deployed, but also by upgrading the hierarchy of spokespersons, in the hope of grasping the power of discourse, winning dominance and creating a favorable public opinion environment. However, critics argue that the CCP’s use of spokespersons as a propaganda platform is only empty talk to guide the direction of public opinion in an information age with many channels of access to information.
More people, higher rank
China’s State Council Information Office recently announced a list of central and local press spokespersons for 2021, including 161 from central departments and 101 from localities, for a total of 262. Compared with 2020, the number of spokespersons has increased by 14.
This year’s spokesperson list, not only the number of spokespersons increased, some important departments spokesperson’s administrative level also for the first Time “upgrade”. The Ministry of Propaganda (with the State Council Information Office), for example, has added Xu Lin, vice minister of Propaganda and director of the State Council Information Office, to the list, one of the few new officials at the ministerial level. Other officials at the ministerial level in the list include Xiao Pei, deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and deputy director of the State Supervision Commission, Xu Yusheng, deputy minister of the United Front Work Department (added), and Mu Hong, executive deputy director of the Central Reform Office (added).
This upgrade in the line-up of spokespersons at the State New Office is seen as a sign that the CCP will tighten control over its press work. On October 30 last year, at the first press conference after the CPC Central Committee established a press release system, Xu Lin pointed out that the establishment of the CPC Central Committee’s press release system is “an important institutional arrangement and institutional innovation to adhere to and strengthen the Party’s overall leadership and improve the Party’s ability to govern the country”.
Wang Chen, the current vice chairman of the Chinese National People’s Congress (NPC), emphasized in his past role as vice minister of the Propaganda Department and director of the State Information Office that the establishment of a party spokesman system “is conducive to grasping the right to speak and winning the dominant power in public opinion communication, and creating a favorable public opinion environment for the construction of the party and national development.
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