'China' and 'Chinese': A National Identity Hijacked by CCP Ideology

Sep 11, 2024

The recent speech by Xi Jinping, published in the CCP’s journal Qiushi, stated, “Our education must never produce destroyers and gravediggers of socialism, and it must never produce people who ‘have Chinese faces but not Chinese hearts, lack Chinese sentiment, and are devoid of Chinese flavor!’”

Some netizens exclaimed, “The word ‘China’ has already been stolen and occupied by the CCP, imbued with and bound to the CCP’s ideology. This ‘China’ is, in fact, the ‘CCP State,’ while the true China has perished.”

Under CCP rule, the concept of ‘China’ has transformed from a non-ideological cultural and historical entity into a highly ideologized “CCP State.” Through control of public opinion and educational indoctrination, the CCP has successfully positioned itself as the sole interpreter and definer of national identity.

The Word ‘China’ Has Been Stolen by the CCP

The CCP, through prolonged propaganda, has linked “patriotism” to loyalty to the CCP’s leadership. In this way, patriotism is no longer simply a love for Chinese culture, history, or people but has become associated with the support of the socialist system and the CCP’s leadership. Many may not realize that the concept of “patriotism” has subtly but profoundly shifted from cultural identification to political loyalty.

In the CCP-controlled education system, subjects like history, politics, and ethics are filled with positive descriptions of the Party’s leadership and the socialist system, subtly instilling this ideology in students from a young age. Through this process, the concept of “China” is naturally tied to the CCP’s system, and many do not realize this “substitution” because it appears to be a natural and reasonable continuation.

The CCP repeatedly emphasizes concepts like “hostile forces” and “color revolutions,” branding any opposition to its rule or ideology as “treason” or “threats to national stability.” This rhetoric further intertwines the “nation” and the “party,” subtly altering people’s understanding of “nation” and “government,” making opposition to the CCP seem equivalent to opposing China itself.

Through long-term political manipulation and ideological indoctrination, the CCP has gradually turned the word “China” into a synonym for the CCP system without most people noticing. Many may not realize the meaning behind this shift, as it was achieved subtly through systematic means like education, culture, and media control.

The Word ‘China’ Has Been Occupied by the CCP

The CCP controls most of the media, news agencies, and social platforms within China, ensuring that its definition of “national identity” remains the only legitimate interpretation. In such an environment, the image of “China” promoted by the Party is closely tied to the CCP’s ideology, and any challenge to this image is labeled as “reactionary” or “treasonous.” This closed public opinion environment has gradually erased the “real China,” replacing it with the CCP’s full occupation of the word “China.”

The internet and media in the CCP State are heavily censored, with discussions on sensitive political topics being deleted or blocked. This strict censorship not only suppresses public dissent but also forces many into self-censorship, further discouraging open challenges to the CCP’s monopoly over the concept of “China,” thereby reinforcing its ideological dominance.

The CCP uses its control over public discourse to stigmatize any challenge to its control of national identity as “anti-national” or “anti-China.” Through this strategy, it not only suppresses dissent but also creates a “black-and-white” political environment where questioning the CCP’s rule is equated with opposing China itself.

By strictly controlling public discourse and suppressing dissent, the CCP not only monopolizes the narrative of “national identity” but also tightly binds itself to the concept of China. In this environment, national identity becomes highly politicized, serving as a crucial tool for legitimizing the CCP’s rule.

The True China Has Perished

The “real China” can be understood as a non-ideological concept—a nation rooted in a long history of cultural and historical identity. This identity is not swayed by a single political force but is a concept of the nation that transcends regimes.

The CCP’s ideology has permeated not only the government and policy but has also gradually influenced culture, education, media, and even daily life. In such an environment, the definition and identity of the nation are no longer based on traditional culture and history but are shaped by the CCP’s ideological goals. As the CCP links “socialist values” to national identity through education, propaganda, and media control, the once diverse and non-political “China” has gradually disappeared.

The CCP regime has successfully conflated “love for the Party” with “love for the country” by binding its fate to the nation’s. Any criticism or questioning of the Party is seen as a betrayal of the nation. This conflation has erased the traditional, non-ideological national identity. In other words, the independence of “China” as a historical and cultural entity has been replaced by the ideologically charged “CCP State.”

This ideological reconstruction has not only influenced the domestic perception of “what China is” but has also shaped the international image of China, centered on CCP ideology. Meanwhile, the “real China” has been gradually marginalized, eventually disappearing from political discourse.

Conclusion

The word “China” has been stolen and occupied by the CCP, imbued with and bound to its ideology. This “China” is, in reality, the “CCP State,” while the true China has perished. To say the word “China” has been stolen by the CCP means that this concept has been subtly replaced without most people realizing it. To say the word “China” has been occupied by the CCP means that any dissent is not tolerated, as public discourse is fully controlled. To say the true China has perished means that the original, non-ideological China no longer exists; it has been replaced by the ideologized “CCP State.”

– This text was translated by AI. –