social control
A famous feminist activist who prefers to remain anonymous refrains from dates or phone calls as a precaution. A warning is issued about speaking with foreign media. During a congress, facial recognition cameras monitor entrances while microphones are scrutinized. Text messages sent through encrypted apps describe a growing difficulty: the government now sets the terms of how information is shared, from renting a rural venue for private meetings to health-code scanning required by the current covid policy.
Under Xi Jinping, who secured a historic third term as head of the Chinese Communist Party, the space for dissent has narrowed. The leadership links lax ideological discipline and weak control with the collapse of old guarantees, then tightens patriotism and party influence over civil society. The result is a climate where questioning authority becomes harder and activism is treated with increased suspicion.
In 2015, a notable shift occurred within the party as a campaign led to the arrest of hundreds of lawyers and human rights defenders. Reports describe mass detentions, house arrests, and the revocation of professional licenses. Political opposition has long faced severe penalties, especially when defending democracy or challenging the core framework of the system. During Hu Jintao’s presidency, Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo was convicted for calls for political reform and died in prison later on.
social control
The difference under Xi lies in an expansive definition of what is deemed hostile. Social control has become an overwhelming constraint, and activism is treated with suspicion until proven otherwise. A growing hostility toward the United States, along with a persistent sense of siege, spurred laws that limit the activities of foreign NGOs. Within-party regulations have framed Western liberal values as a threat to democracy and press freedom.
The crackdown reached extreme levels. Five feminists were detained for 37 days for criticizing sexual harassment in public transport, while LGBT organizations in universities faced bans. These campaigns, paradoxically, have fostered contempt for a country that shows strides in gender equality compared with some neighbors, yet has little tolerance for dissenting voices. The culture of surveillance makes ordinary advocacy risky, and those who support official women’s equality policies in public spaces encounter punishment.
Yang Zhanqing, who defended the rights of AIDS and hepatitis B patients through her NGO Yiren Ping, described the situation as far more dangerous than during Hu’s tenure. Previously, local media covered NGO work, and government bodies engaged with criticism to shape policy. The NGO was shut down in 2014, and Yang was arrested a year later for articles denouncing patient discrimination, eventually traveling to the United States in 2017.
An unprecedented censorship
The result is a civil society that is not monolithic or submissive yet finds its channels of expression stifled. Art galleries and editors of entertainment magazines complain about unprecedented censorship affecting the press. Political events at the congress amplify control; activists face threats, house arrest, or forced vacations to keep them from speaking with foreign media. An LGBT center in Beijing declined a request despite the commitment to anonymity. Detainees are kept under tight surveillance at home, and some reports describe sleep deprivation and intimidation to deter dissent. One activist recalls police urging youths to avoid her and spreading rumors online that undermined a small business venture.
Context suggests a climate of paranoia. Although poverty has been reduced and a broad social roadmap has progressed, Xi commands broad authority and enjoys strong backing from many quarters, including major global institutions that estimate significant public support. The question remains whether space for dissatisfied voices will persist, but there is little sign of generous openings any time soon. A quote from Yang reflects the fear that constitutional reforms could extend the presidency further and intensify pressure on civil society and human rights defenders in the years ahead.
Daily life under these conditions remains a tense, unequal struggle. Officials insist progress and dissent cannot coexist, while many citizens never expected to be labeled as enemies of the state. Some people leave school or seek opportunities abroad. Activism has never been for the faint of heart in China, but today it demands more courage. The pressure on dissent likely dampens current protests and stifles future movements. Yet the feminist movement remains resilient; younger generations are expected to find new ways to challenge norms, even at a high personal cost, according to observers who track these shifts.
[Citation: Human rights assessments and contemporary policy analysis provide context for the described developments and are attributed to various regional researchers and organizations.]