Listen to the article
China Quietly Removes Xi Jinping’s Political Slogans from Public Spaces
Local authorities across China have begun removing public propaganda displays featuring President Xi Jinping’s political phrases, according to leaked notices and online reports. This unusual development has sparked speculation about a potential shift in the visibility of Xi-centered messaging within the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda system.
A leaked December 14 directive, reportedly issued by a community grid worker in a residential compound, instructed neighborhood committees to inspect all public-service posters and remove any featuring Xi’s well-known phrase: “The country is the people, and the people are the country.” Staff were required to document each removal with photographs, suggesting higher-level authorities intended to verify compliance.
Political analysts note that such a directive would be unlikely to originate from neighborhood offices acting independently. The tone and scope point to coordinated orders passed down through multiple layers of the CCP’s administrative hierarchy before reaching community-level workers.
Evidence suggests this is not an isolated incident. Economist and writer Su Xiaohuo reported that a wide range of work units across major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangdong, Hangzhou, and even military residential compounds received similar instructions on the same day.
According to Su, committees at every administrative level—communities, townships, counties, and villages—were ordered to remove wall-mounted propaganda featuring Xi’s political messages within 24 hours. The entire process had to be recorded and submitted to higher authorities, indicating a coordinated nationwide campaign rather than scattered local initiatives.
The phrase now being removed first appeared during Xi’s July 1, 2021 speech marking the Chinese Communist Party’s centenary. After this high-profile introduction, it became a central component of official propaganda, appearing across government offices, residential compounds, and public billboards. Its inclusion in “Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Volume III” cemented its status as a cornerstone of Xi-era political messaging.
Critics have long argued that the slogan contains a fundamental contradiction. If “the country is the people,” then the CCP’s claim that it “fought to establish the country” implies that the Party fought against the people themselves. When the phrase was introduced at the height of Xi’s political authority, few dared to openly acknowledge this inconsistency.
U.S.-based commentator Chen Pokong, who has criticized the phrase for years, emphasized that its removal doesn’t necessarily indicate Xi is losing power. Rather, the CCP may now recognize the slogan as politically damaging. According to Chen, combining the ideas that “the country is the people” and that the Party “fought to establish the country” leads to a problematic implication: the Party fought the people to seize power and continues to rule over them.
Political observer Li Muyang noted that while the removal notice referred only to “advertisements,” its language suggested a much broader scope. He described the directive as unusually sweeping and argued it may reflect internal efforts to reduce Xi’s political imprint.
Several other Xi phrases also appear targeted for removal, including “Fighting to establish the country, governing the country” and “Loyalty that is not absolute is absolutely disloyal,” with the first two being removed most aggressively.
Commentator Li Dayu suggested these removal orders were likely distributed simultaneously across Party and government institutions, only becoming public through the leaked grain bureau notice. He attributed the shift to China’s economic downturn and growing public dissatisfaction, which have made Xi-centered propaganda politically risky. Some within the system now apparently see such messaging as potentially damaging to the Party’s broader legitimacy.
While the dismantling of these displays may reflect a gradual erosion of Xi’s symbolic authority, analysts caution it doesn’t necessarily indicate a dramatic shift in formal power structures. It may simply represent the beginning of a broader, quiet rollback of politically awkward or excessively personalized messaging within China’s propaganda system.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
16 Comments
While the removal of Xi’s slogans is noteworthy, it’s important not to read too much into it without more context. China’s propaganda apparatus is complex, and these changes could be part of a larger strategic shift.
It will be important for analysts to closely monitor the situation and look for any patterns or indications of a broader political message behind these removals.
This is an intriguing development that bears close watching. While the removal of Xi’s slogans may signal a shift in the party’s propaganda approach, it’s crucial to avoid jumping to conclusions without more information.
I’m curious to see if this directive is part of a broader initiative or if it’s more localized. Either way, it’s a noteworthy shift in China’s propaganda landscape.
This is certainly an intriguing story, but as with any developments in China’s political landscape, we need to be careful about jumping to conclusions. The removal of Xi’s slogans could signal a shift, but it could also be part of a larger, more complex strategy.
I’m interested to see if this is a widespread phenomenon or limited to certain regions. Monitoring the situation for any patterns or trends will be crucial in understanding the motivations behind these changes.
The removal of Xi’s slogans from public spaces is certainly noteworthy, but it’s important to keep in mind that China’s propaganda system is complex and often opaque. We’ll need to see if this is a broader trend or a more localized phenomenon.
It will be interesting to see if this development has any implications for Xi’s political standing or the direction of the CCP’s messaging strategies going forward.
This seems like a significant move, given the prominent role Xi’s slogans have played in the party’s propaganda efforts in recent years. I’m curious to see if this is a widespread phenomenon or limited to certain regions.
The requirement to document each removal with photos suggests there is close oversight on this process. I wonder what the end goal is for the CCP leadership.
Interesting development regarding the removal of Xi Jinping propaganda across China. It will be important to monitor whether this signals a shift in the CCP’s messaging strategy or just a temporary change.
I wonder what prompted this directive to remove the slogans. Could it be a sign of internal tensions or a strategic recalibration within the party?
This is an intriguing development, but I would caution against drawing firm conclusions at this stage. China’s propaganda efforts are often opaque, and the motivations behind these changes may not be immediately clear.
I’m curious to see how this story evolves and whether there are any further insights into the reasoning behind these removals of Xi’s slogans.
The reported removal of Xi Jinping’s slogans from public spaces is an interesting development that warrants further investigation. It’s important to remain cautious about drawing definitive conclusions, as China’s propaganda system can be opaque and complex.
I’ll be following this story closely to see if there are any indications of a larger strategic shift or if this is a more isolated incident within the CCP’s propaganda efforts.