On April 15, 2025, a startling photo began circulating online showing giant anti-Communist Party banners hanging from an overpass in downtown Chengdu, Sichuan Province. One of the banners declared: “The people do not need a party with unchecked power.” (Internet photo)
[People News] On April 15, three banners were hung from a pedestrian bridge in Chengdu, Sichuan, in the early morning hours, calling for democracy and political reform—an act widely seen as a grassroots call for change. More recently, a document reportedly circulating online features a joint open letter titled “A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire,” signed by a dean and professors at South China University of Technology. The letter criticises the shortcomings of CCP leader Xi Jinping since he came to power and urges the Chinese people, especially university students, to “oppose dictatorship and fight for democracy and freedom.” This marks a rare and bold appeal from intellectuals for the end of one-party rule and the restoration of democracy and freedom of speech, triggering strong public reactions.
A video circulating online shows that “A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire” was jointly issued by Lin Ying, a professor and dean at South China University of Technology, and Han Shuangyan, an assistant dean. Under the banner of "democracy, freedom, and human rights," the letter makes four specific demands: 1. End one-party dictatorship and implement democratic elections. 2. Restore freedom of speech and ensure press freedom. 3. Improve livelihoods and achieve social fairness. 4. Establish a society ruled by law and protect human rights. It calls on the public, especially young students, to rise up and fight for these goals.
According to a report by Dajiyuan, on April 28, a social media influencer known as “Laodeng (@laodeng89),” with hundreds of thousands of followers, posted on X, “Young people, rise up — a Chinese university professor’s real-name anti-CCP manifesto,” along with screenshots of the letter. The screenshots show the document titled “A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire!” calling on the Chinese people, especially university students, to stand up against dictatorship and fight for democracy and freedom.
The letter begins: “I am Lin Ying, Dean of the School of Bioscience and Engineering at South China University of Technology. I am a member of the Chinese Communist Party, and also one of China’s 1.4 billion citizens. On this vast land, we have witnessed firsthand the degradation and oppression of Chinese society.”
The letter strongly criticises the Chinese Communist Party for consolidating its authoritarian regime and completely controlling all aspects of society—politics, economy, and culture—stripping them of independence. With excessive power concentration, the people’s freedoms are taken away, their voices suppressed, and the dictatorship is moving toward an irreversible abyss.
The authors write: “Today, with a deeply heavy heart, I make the strongest call to action: It is time to stand up against the regime that oppresses us and strips us of our basic human rights. It is time to fight for democracy and freedom!”
The letter is divided into several sections:
1. Xi Jinping’s Re-election: The Endless Continuation of One-Party Rule
It notes that in 2018, Xi Jinping amended the constitution to remove the two-term limit on the presidency. He not only reinforced personal worship through the slogan of the “great rejuvenation” but also further expanded his own power.
China’s political environment has become increasingly closed, and the public has virtually no opportunity to express their true thoughts. For the younger generation in particular, the hope for genuine political reform and democracy seems forever out of reach.
2. Recent Events: The “Zero-COVID” Policy and Public Outrage; The “996 Work Culture” and Youth Struggles
The letter condemns the “zero-COVID policy,” which exposed how basic rights were repressed: even the most basic right to protest was stripped away, and public voices were ruthlessly silenced in the dark. All of this, it argues, was the result of extreme measures taken by the government to maintain its grip on power.
The “996 work culture” (working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week) and strict censorship have created an interwoven network of oppression. Both grassroots citizens and the younger generation are caught in endless hardship. Many young people face a lack of job options, no social security, and no personal freedom—they are forced to silently endure under the government’s iron heel, unable to change their fate.
3. The Plight of Chinese University Students: From Freedom of Thought to the Loss of Freedom of Action
The letter says that university students, as elite members of society, should be the pioneers of thought and culture in China. However, under the country’s increasingly harsh political environment, they are being increasingly suppressed. Through strict ideological control and censorship, the government forces students to remain silent. Whether discussing history or criticising government actions, they face harsh scrutiny and repression.
4. Citing Historical Events: The “Tiananmen Incident,” Historical Amnesia, Suppression of Dissent, and Student Silence
The manifesto specifically mentions the case of Professor Li Haipeng from Nanjing University, who was dismissed in 2020 for publicly expressing dissatisfaction with the current state of China.
5. A Call to Action: “Students, It’s Time for You to Stand Up!”
The letter issues a direct appeal to university students: “You are the future hope of this country and the vanguard of social change. Today, the crisis we face is not merely about the dictatorship of a regime, but a broader collapse of morality, a void of law, and widespread suffering of the people. Your thoughts and actions will determine China's future—whether this country can emerge from darkness into the light.
“If you don’t stand up today, you will become another victim of history tomorrow. Now is the time for you to speak out! You must not only call for freedom, democracy, and justice, but also fight for a future in which you can think freely, choose freely, and express yourselves freely.”
6. Demands for Democracy, Freedom, and Human Rights
The manifesto outlines four major demands:
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End One-Party Rule and Implement Democratic Elections
Abolish the Party’s autocratic control, allow a multi-party system and fair general elections, and ensure every citizen can participate in politics and elect a government that truly represents the people. -
Restore Freedom of Speech and Ensure Press Freedom
Remove censorship of the press and public discourse, allow citizens to openly discuss politics and criticize the government, and restore the people’s right to know. -
Improve Livelihoods and Create a Fair Society
Strengthen social welfare, eliminate the wealth gap, and improve access to education, healthcare, and housing so that every Chinese citizen can enjoy equal opportunities. -
Establish Rule of Law and Protect Human Rights
The government must respect every citizen’s basic human rights—including freedom of speech, assembly, and the press—strictly prohibit arbitrary arrests and prosecutions of dissidents, and ensure judicial fairness and independence.
Final Appeal of the Manifesto: “University students are the backbone of the nation’s future and the hope of our era. You not only have the ability but also the responsibility to speak out for China’s future. In this time full of challenges, let us rise together, stand against the CCP’s dictatorship, call for democracy and freedom, and transform a China full of lies and violence into a society of liberty, democracy, rule of law, and justice—bringing light to this nation.
“Dear fellow citizens, especially our beloved university students, you have the power and duty to speak for China’s future. We must make sure China is no longer a nation filled with lies and violence, but one grounded in freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and justice. You are the pillars of the nation’s future and the hope of the times. Your strength can change the country’s destiny and bring brightness to these people.
“Today, at this moment full of challenges, let us rise up together and oppose Xi Jinping’s dictatorship. Let us demand democracy and freedom and fight for every citizen’s basic rights and social justice! Your voices may seem faint, but if the people rise as one, we will shake the regime’s foundations and ignite the fire of change across all of society!”
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