China’s university candidates now need an understanding of Xi’s nationalist theory

Zhang, a student in China’s central Henan province, encountered a mysterious essay this month while taking his university entrance exam: “You won’t shine brighter by extinguishing other people’s lamps.”

Essay questions in the notoriously fierce Chinese language of China Gaokaowhich lasts two days and determines students’ university placement – and often their careers – has become increasingly nationalistic in recent years.

But this year, examiners turned directly to the “Xi Jinping Thought,” as it is known from the collected sayings of China’s president, asking students to respond to texts with strongly implied anti-American themes .

China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, it’s hard to escape Xi and his Marxist thinking – the president’s official portrait and banners bearing his slogan plaster shop walls and roadside billboards, and his vast collection of essays stock bookstore shelves .

Analysts say embedding Xi Jinping Thought in China’s education system to inspire potential Communist Party members from an impressionable age reflects a leadership that is concerned about the dangers of its control and that a younger generation increasingly Has been separated from politics since.

“We can see that the party is exerting more pressure on society and youth,” said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, emeritus professor at Hong Kong Baptist University. Geopolitical and economic threats “have apparently convinced the party leadership that they need a strong leader, they need a symbol for society to cling to”.

Another question asked students to consider Shea’s phrase, “A single flower that blooms is not spring, but a hundred flowers blooming together fills the garden with spring.” The examination said that the texts “were taken from General Secretary Xi Jinping’s speeches, which express simple truths in vivid language”.

Not all of the approximately 13 million students who sit Gaokao This year it was faced with questions that clearly contained Xi Jinping’s views. But many of those who did so were in the outlying provinces. In the northwestern region of Xinjiang – where authorities have faced accusations of crimes against humanity for detaining more than 1 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minority Muslims – a number of questions fueled the importance of social cohesion.

This year, as Xi begins an unprecedented third term in office, there are signs he is seeking to expand this cult of personality. Most official speeches and documents contain his formal doctrine, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, which is enshrined in China’s constitution—the only such privilege accorded to Mao.

One of the core tenets of Xi’s ideology is to achieve the “Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation”, which is understood by many analysts to replace US “hegemony” with a multipolar world order in which a more assertive China is used. Significant global impact.

But despite his tight grip on domestic politics, China’s nationalist leader faces deepening tensions with the US and an economic recovery that is contributing to record levels of youth unemployment. A rare outbreak of protests against COVID-19 controls in November drew disaffected youth to the streets of the country’s biggest cities.

“The party’s position in society and the party’s position globally – they are insecure,” said John P Burns, emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong. “That is why they are tightening central control and trying to force people to think the same way.”

According to analysts, Xi’s personality cult is nowhere near as extreme as that of Mao, who promoted the disastrous Cultural Revolution to address perceived challenges to socialism within the party and his leadership.

But some observers in the mainland describe Xi’s increasing public appearances as the “North Koreanization of China,” a reference to Kim Jong Un’s overwhelming dominance of China’s smaller neighbor.

“There is a sense of insecurity and paranoia in the Chinese leadership,” Cabesten said. “So we’re getting back to that cult of personality.”

That message was well-received by Zhang, a student from Henan province, who offered a geopolitical take on his exam that would probably have made Xi proud, detailing how the U.S. was “a threat to world peace.” not suited for”.

Another student, also surnamed Zhang but not related, wrote about how young people should “build a community with a shared future for mankind” – echoing a Xi stock phrase Many analysts noted the end of American pre-eminence.

However, some teachers said the meaning of the test questions would be lost on many students, especially those outside the cities of Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.

“I teach science students – they don’t study politics and don’t watch a lot of news. They might not have a political background,” said a teacher named Li in Henan province, who taught her class to helped prepare for Gaokao,

Burns, of the University of Hong Kong, said the exams raised questions about the priorities of China’s leadership for educating the next generation. “Are they looking for ideological conformity or are they looking for originality and thinking outside the box?” They said.

Zhang, a student in China’s central Henan province, encountered a mysterious essay this month while taking his university entrance exam: “You won’t shine brighter by extinguishing other people’s lamps.”

Essay questions in the notoriously fierce Chinese language of China Gaokaowhich lasts two days and determines students’ university placement – and often their careers – has become increasingly nationalistic in recent years.

But this year, examiners turned directly to the “Xi Jinping Thought,” as it is known from the collected sayings of China’s president, asking students to respond to texts with strongly implied anti-American themes .

China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, it’s hard to escape Xi and his Marxist thinking – the president’s official portrait and banners bearing his slogan plaster shop walls and roadside billboards, and his vast collection of essays stock bookstore shelves .

Analysts say embedding Xi Jinping Thought in China’s education system to inspire potential Communist Party members from an impressionable age reflects a leadership that is concerned about the dangers of its control and that a younger generation increasingly Has been separated from politics since.

“We can see that the party is exerting more pressure on society and youth,” said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, emeritus professor at Hong Kong Baptist University. Geopolitical and economic threats “have apparently convinced the party leadership that they need a strong leader, they need a symbol for society to cling to”.

Another question asked students to consider Shea’s phrase, “A single flower that blooms is not spring, but a hundred flowers blooming together fills the garden with spring.” The examination said that the texts “were taken from General Secretary Xi Jinping’s speeches, which express simple truths in vivid language”.

Not all of the approximately 13 million students who sit Gaokao This year it was faced with questions that clearly contained Xi Jinping’s views. But many of those who did so were in the outlying provinces. In the northwestern region of Xinjiang – where authorities have faced accusations of crimes against humanity for detaining more than 1 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minority Muslims – a number of questions fueled the importance of social cohesion.

This year, as Xi begins an unprecedented third term in office, there are signs he is seeking to expand this cult of personality. Most official speeches and documents contain his formal doctrine, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, which is enshrined in China’s constitution—the only such privilege accorded to Mao.

One of the core tenets of Xi’s ideology is to achieve the “Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation”, which is understood by many analysts to replace US “hegemony” with a multipolar world order in which a more assertive China is used. Significant global impact.

But despite his tight grip on domestic politics, China’s nationalist leader faces deepening tensions with the US and an economic recovery that is contributing to record levels of youth unemployment. A rare outbreak of protests against COVID-19 controls in November drew disaffected youth to the streets of the country’s biggest cities.

“The party’s position in society and the party’s position globally – they are insecure,” said John P Burns, emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong. “That is why they are tightening central control and trying to force people to think the same way.”

According to analysts, Xi’s personality cult is nowhere near as extreme as that of Mao, who promoted the disastrous Cultural Revolution to address perceived challenges to socialism within the party and his leadership.

But some observers in the mainland describe Xi’s increasing public appearances as the “North Koreanization of China,” a reference to Kim Jong Un’s overwhelming dominance of China’s smaller neighbor.

“There is a sense of insecurity and paranoia in the Chinese leadership,” Cabesten said. “So we’re getting back to that cult of personality.”

That message was well-received by Zhang, a student from Henan province, who offered a geopolitical take on his exam that would probably have made Xi proud, detailing how the U.S. was “a threat to world peace.” not suited for”.

Another student, also surnamed Zhang but not related, wrote about how young people should “build a community with a shared future for mankind” – echoing a Xi stock phrase Many analysts noted the end of American pre-eminence.

However, some teachers said the meaning of the test questions would be lost on many students, especially those outside the cities of Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.

“I teach science students – they don’t study politics and don’t watch a lot of news. They might not have a political background,” said a teacher named Li in Henan province, who taught her class to helped prepare for Gaokao,

Burns, of the University of Hong Kong, said the exams raised questions about the priorities of China’s leadership for educating the next generation. “Are they looking for ideological conformity or are they looking for originality and thinking outside the box?” They said.