An image from Hu Xijin's Weibo account, showing him in front of a monument at Pingxingguan, China.
Hu Xijin, too, believes it has gone too far. Hu, who has always been quick to defend the most patriotic positions and virtues of his country's regime, is now also calling for more room for free expression in Chinese society. The former editor-in-chief of the Global Times daily newspaper – a well-known figure in China who has never minced words about the failings of Western societies or "American imperialism" – has now acknowledged the drying up of public debate in his own society.
The nationalist and conservative columnist laments that voices have fallen silent – a reality noted by many before him as political controls have tightened. In a message posted on October 13 on his Weibo account – the Chinese equivalent of X that is followed by nearly 25 million people – Hu observed, "Many people are becoming increasingly cautious when it comes to expressing themselves on social media, or have even stopped posting altogether." He pointed to celebrity accounts that had once teemed with discussions, but which are now limited to posting merely official statements.
You have 78.98% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.
