Reports of Sima Nan Being Silenced Across the Internet for a Year

In August 2022, Sima Nan was exposed for spending a large sum to purchase real estate in the United States, sparking public controversy. He was subsequently forced to admit that he owned property in the U.S. (Video screenshot)

[People News] South China Morning Post reported on Saturday (November 9) that Chinese internet regulators have imposed a "gag order" on controversial ultra-nationalist blogger Sima Nan, suspending his social media accounts for one year.

According to Voice of America, a source familiar with the situation told the South China Morning Post: "He has been silenced on all platforms for a year. However, I cannot discuss the specific reasons behind the ban."

Sima Nan’s social media accounts have not been updated since November 5, with his last Weibo post expressing support for Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

In his post, Sima wrote that viewing the U.S. election from the perspective of the Taiwan issue, Trump’s election would aid "Beijing’s takeover of Taiwan."

"Simply put, Trump calls himself a great dealmaker. Trump would cut ties with Taipei and negotiate with Beijing. Anything can be sold, as long as the price is right."

"Based on this alone, I lean toward wanting Trump to be elected, but if he isn’t, that’s fine too," Sima added.

In his last short video on the Douyin platform, Sima jokingly called himself "Deputy Director of Trump’s Beijing Campaign Office," pointing out that Trump’s stance "benefits Beijing," sparking discussion.

Sima Nan, whose real name is Yu Li, is known for his strong anti-Western rhetoric and has earned the title "Anti-American Warrior." He has been vocal on the tightly censored Chinese internet for over two decades, attacking various targets with fervor.

Despite occasional controversies, Sima often cited Communist ideology, including Mao Zedong Thought, leading many to believe that his statements had some level of official endorsement.

There is no indication that Sima’s current ban involves other incidents, although he was silenced for several weeks in August 2022.

The South China Morning Post reported that the background of this gag order comes as Beijing faces challenges in fulfilling promises of market reform and private sector support. Despite repeated official statements, confidence both domestically and internationally has yet to be fully restored.

The South China Morning Post cited an anonymous media professor from Hong Kong who said that the extreme nationalist views spread by internet influencers like Sima Nan on social media have seriously impacted investor confidence in China.

"If these people are allowed to continue spouting nonsense, investors will undoubtedly question the CCP’s commitment to reform and opening up," the professor remarked.

Meanwhile, Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of the nationalist newspaper Global Times, who was silenced in late July, returned to social media on October 31, signaling that he had regained the right to post. Hu was banned after an article analyzing the CCP’s Third Plenum economic strategy document was deleted.

Hu confirmed that his ban ended on October 27, indirectly verifying reports of his silencing.

Additionally, in August, Tsinghua University law professor Lao Dongyan, known as an outspoken academic, was banned from social media after opposing Beijing’s implementation of a national cybersecurity ID system.