In recent years, the phenomenon of “pinkies” among China’s younger generation has become more and more popular. Regardless of the confusion, it is true that a large number of the post-90s and post-00s are supportive of the Chinese Communist Party’s rule and are satisfied with the current situation in China. They do not distinguish between right and wrong, blame all China’s problems on “hostile forces outside China”, and have a strong tendency toward narrow nationalism. The formation of such a generation is certainly not something we would like to see, and it is also an obstacle to the progress of civilization in Chinese society, but it is not helpful to blame and dislike them.
First, we need to understand the reasons for the formation of the pink phenomenon. This generation of young people did not experience the “Cultural Revolution”, did not experience the “June 4”, in the words of the current fashion, they “have not tasted the iron fist of socialism”; instead, from their Instead, from birth to growth, they have seen the superficial prosperity brought about by China’s economic growth. Because they are not yet experienced, and because of the lack of freedom of expression in China, they are unable to see the darkness and costs beneath the surface of prosperity, and therefore unreservedly believe that the society they live in is a progressive one, and that the CCP’s governance has been successful. This is, to some extent, understandable. But I think that as they grow up and as their contact with society expands, their perceptions will gradually change. The post-80s generation was once “pink”, but now that they are over 30, the overall “pinkness” has declined significantly. Such a change will also happen to the current “pink” generation.
Secondly, we must also realize that the phenomenon of pinkness today is largely the result of the manipulation and encouragement of the Chinese Communist authorities. In China, the ups and downs of nationalist sentiment are entirely in the hands of the CCP, and without their permission and support, there is no room for nationalist sentiment to grow and be vented. For a long time, the CCP has relied on economic growth and nationalism as the basis for supporting its rule. Now that the pillar of economic growth has faltered, the CCP can only, and must, devote greater energy to maintaining and strengthening the other pillar, which is nationalism. In recent years, China’s “war-wolf diplomacy” has become so popular that it has shocked the outside world. But the logical outcome is clear: the increased importance of nationalism for the CCP after the economic growth has come to a halt. Against this backdrop, the CCP has also stepped up its efforts to guide the “pinkie” phenomenon among the younger generation, as exemplified by the various propaganda efforts of the Communist Youth League and other organizations on the Internet. Therefore, the “Pinky” phenomenon is not simply a question of the characteristics of China’s young generation, but also a reflection of the crisis facing the CCP’s rule and the countermeasures they are taking to deal with it. The emergence and intensification of the “pinkie” phenomenon is the result of the measures taken by the CCP to deal with the crisis.
Finally, there is no need to exaggerate the phenomenon of “pinkies” among China’s younger generation. In today’s China, where there is no freedom of expression, what percentage of the younger generation are “pinkos”? How strong is the influence of these “pinkies”? It is highly debatable. Their voices are high, in part, because they are skilled at using the Internet, making their words and actions more visible. In the real world, it is doubtful that they will be able to maintain their confidence in the CCP as they gradually leave the shelter of their families and begin to bear some of the pressures of life. Even for the most active “pinkos,” not many of them would really reject the materialistic consumption of Western capitalism. On this basis alone, I am afraid that their “pink” careers will not stretch very far in their lives. In other words, the “pinko” generation is changing rapidly, and the CCP must keep brainwashing new generations over and over again to maintain China’s “pinko” army, which is not an easy task.
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