China’s Ministry of State Security has issued a warning about the rising threat to national security from Chinese citizens who criticize the country’s economy. In a series of posts on its official WeChat account, the ministry urged citizens to align with President Xi Jinping’s economic vision and not be influenced by those who seek to denigrate China’s economy through false narratives. To combat this risk, the ministry stated that security agencies will focus on strengthening economic propaganda and public opinion guidance.
This warning comes as China intensifies its crackdown on dissent while struggling to regain the rapid economic growth it has experienced in the past. The government has censored and intimidated economists, financial analysts, investment banks, and social media influencers for expressing negative assessments of the economy and government policies. News articles discussing financial struggles and poor living conditions for migrant workers are also being removed.
The involvement of security agencies in targeting economic criticism underscores President Xi’s expansive view of what constitutes a threat to national security. The government’s efforts to silence negative economic information are having a deepening impact on the confidence of investors and foreign businesses in the true state of China’s economy. This has led to a decline in foreign investment and a decrease in the Chinese stock market index.
Opinions on the crackdown vary, with some critics arguing that suppressing negative information about the economy only undermines the public’s confidence in the government’s handling of the economic situation. Influential commentator and former editor Hu Xijin believes that influencers should constructively help the government identify problems instead of actively covering them up, creating a public opinion that is not reflective of the reality.
In conclusion, the government’s increasing efforts to control economic discourse and suppress dissenting views on the economy have sparked concerns about the true state of China’s economy and its impact on foreign investment and the public’s confidence in the government.