A wave of Chinese nationalism is sweeping the country. The Wall Street Journal reported on October 24 that the Communist Party’s propaganda, Xi Jinping’s political ambitions, and China’s success in containing the neo-coronavirus epidemic have amplified this trend.
Angry keyboard warriors are hounding the Internet to crush any criticism of the Chinese leader or perceived disloyalty to the country. Those targeted by them have been harassed or silenced. Some have lost their jobs.
Some of those attacked this year are public figures who have questioned the early response of Chinese officials to the neo-crowning epidemic. This includes Wuhan-based writer Fang Fang, who wrote online about the difficult experiences of local residents and accused government officials of being slow to respond to the epidemic.
Thousands of Chinese netizens have called Fang Fang a traitor. An anonymous small-character poster that appeared at a Wuhan bus station calling for her to become a nun or die as a thank-you for her sins was widely circulated online. A famous Taijiquan master called on supporters to punish Fang Fang with the fist of justice.
Recent Comments