Xi Jinping May Want to Govern Others, but Perhaps He Should First Address His Own Mindset

Illustration: Intense infighting within Xi Jinping’s central leadership and the military. (Image by People News)

[People News] In late November, the Politburo's collective study session once again placed 'internet ecological governance' in the spotlight. Xi Jinping's speech was notably severe: he stated that internet chaos 'pollutes the social atmosphere and infringes on the interests of the masses,' insisting that we must 'dare to draw swords and resolutely combat' these issues, 'cut off the chains of interests and industry,' and 'establish long-term mechanisms' to foster a 'clean and upright' online environment.

This rhetoric is familiar and predictable—'dare to draw swords' is a classic slogan from Cai Qi's campaign against the 'low-end population,' and it has proven to be both effective and harsh.

While the language may sound impressive, a moment's reflection reveals the absurdity of this narrative.

You claim that the internet pollutes the social atmosphere?

In the past decade, who has transformed 'positive energy' into the biggest source of internet pollution? The pervasive presence of wolf warriors and little pinks, the incessant posts of gratitude and progress, and the endless official narratives have effectively turned the internet into a massive brainwashing platform. Ordinary citizens wishing to express themselves, share a joke, or simply vent must navigate through multiple layers of scrutiny, often being accused of 'disrupting the internet ecology.' The true pollution lies not in 'rumours,' but in the prevailing atmosphere that treats lies as truths and silence as consensus.

You assert that you want to protect the interests of the masses?

What are the most immediate interests of the public? They include the right to know the truth, the right to speak without fear of disappearing, and the right to share information without being targeted across provinces. However, the situation today is quite different. Accessing foreign websites through a VPN is now considered 'provoking trouble', and even a simple complaint about prices in a social circle can lead to being 'tea'd'—a euphemism for being questioned by authorities. The most significant infringement on the public's interests does not stem from some 'internet black market', but rather from the very governance logic that is quick to 'draw swords'.

You claim you want to sever the chains of interests and industrial connections?

Alright, let's begin by cutting the largest chain of interests—let's dismantle the propaganda system, the internet information system, the internet army system, various verified zombie accounts, layers of outsourced post-deletion companies, and the cleanup teams of businesses that extort by banning accounts. These entities are the true super-industrial chains that profit from 'internet chaos' and thrive on silencing dissent to maintain stability. Are you willing to take action? Of course not. Because at the top of this industrial chain lies the very power source of Zhongnanhai.

Ironically, the person who calls for 'a clean and upright atmosphere' the loudest lives in a completely closed information bubble.

Those beneath him, in an effort to keep him 'in a good mood', filter out negative news and only report positive developments, so that what ultimately reaches his ears is merely 'the years are peaceful' and 'the people support him'. He believes the Chinese internet is chaotic, but in reality, what he sees daily is just a carefully curated selection of the most chaotic narratives. He thinks the common people are spreading rumours, but in truth, they simply want to express themselves and share a few honest thoughts.

Therefore, instead of spending trillions on constructing firewalls, bluebird systems, or bright projects, it would be wiser to first address one's own mindset.

Once the mind is clear, it becomes evident that:

The true internet ecology of a nation is not established through censorship, deletion, or arrests, but through openness, transparency, accountability, and allowing the public to voice their opinions. Unfortunately, this is a lesson he will never grasp in his lifetime.

This is because what he truly fears is not the 'chaos of the internet', but the truth.

(Source: Author X account)
△