Not just here, but also on reddit and other social media.
Sure, there is a propaganda war brewing wherein a lot of Western media are pushing exaggerated narratives, Adrian Zenz is a theological dope of an academic, and the CIA has a vested interest in accelerating conflict, etc. but surely there’s got to be room to also address the shortcomings of China as well? Whether it’s about LGBTQ+ issues, or the exploits of Chinese capitalism, or being able to criticize or make fun of Xi, I see posts here routinely and systemically brigaded and comments downvoted to oblivion that even sniff at criticism of China.
I consider myself a free agent, and China’s meteoric rise gives me some hope for a brighter tomorrow (in contrast to the US), but this blatant campaign of social media manipulation gives me pause for concern. It just screams insecurity and makes me not trust what feels like a counter-propaganda narrative. (Mods, please never get rid of the downvote counter.)
Anyway, here’s hoping for a brighter future, but please let ideas breathe.
Thanks for listening.
Don’t be obtuse. China is the rising power to the US’s established power; of course people are going to scrutinize it more than Laos or Cuba.
If you do not live within China’s sphere of power, your day to day life is equally impacted by China or Laos or Cuba lol. It’s really not that hard to grasp that. Offering critiques of China does not change its policy, and likely just contributes to the current anti-China narrative
The correct goal of critique here is certainly not to affect Chinese policy; it is to understand and evaluate it in keeping with our continual development as students of historical materialism. China, as the largest, most advanced, most populous, and most prominent socialist country on Earth, is naturally both an important country to study and one that invites curiosity. If we are truly committed to scientific socialism, we really ought not to discourage that.
If they don’t live in Cuba or Laos either, then why are you requesting hot takes?
That wasn’t my point. People bring up these criticisms of China and hide behind the claims they are critiquing a socialist country/its policies. But hey isn’t that weird, that they are only motivated to critique countries that are currently the target of US imperialism?
If you want to discuss AES countries and their flaws, and you only ever do this for China, just be open and honest and say you hate China for whatever absurd reason and move on
They increasingly own a lot of media and exert influence around the world. Tencent, Huawei, partnerships with Disney, etc. These things don’t happen in a bubble.
China’s indirect influence through those pale in comparison to the influences of whatever native country is in question. Like do you really think China’s views on LGBTQ+ people, filtered through Disney or Tencent, really makes more of a difference than Disney’s own policies, or the cultural hegemon here? We should focus on our own shit
But I want to blame China for Disney’s racism and homophobia :( Don’t make me face reality.
