Over a decade into President Xi Jinping’s rule, efforts to centralize control has led to heightened repression throughout the country. There is no independent civil society, no freedom of expression, association, assembly or religion, and human rights defenders and other perceived critics of the government are persecuted.
Censorship
Censorship in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is mandated by the country’s ruling party, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It is one of the strictest censorship regimes in the world.
Patterns of Handling Controversial Topics in Politics and Government
- Extensively censored media and internet platforms, with strict controls on sensitive content.
- Suppression of political criticism, protests, and independent discussion.
- Use of propaganda, slogans, and narratives to promote stability and regime legitimacy.
- Managing public discourse via social media regulation and ideological campaigns.
- Silencing or redirecting contentious issues to avoid criticism or unrest.
strict censorship, controlled discourse, management of public opinion
In the Chinese government and political sphere, the handling of controversial issues is characterized by strict censorship, controlled discourse, and management of public opinion. The Chinese state actively suppresses dissent and sensitive topics—such as criticism of political leaders, historical events like Tiananmen Square, Tibet and Taiwan independence movements, human rights issues, and ethnic tensions—through extensive media control, internet censorship (including the Great Firewall), and legal restrictions.
Leaders emphasize ‘public opinion guidance,’ aiming to shape and steer public discourse by promoting positive narratives and downplaying or silencing negative or destabilizing content. Critical discussions, protests, and debates are often suppressed, and online discussions about controversial issues are monitored closely, with severe repercussions for those who challenge the government’s narrative.
Additionally, authorities use indirect messaging, propaganda, and social stability campaigns to control sensitive topics, avoiding open debate and fostering an environment in which controversy is minimized or managed through censorship and ideological reinforcement. The state aims to avoid social unrest, suppress rumors and dissent, and maintain regime stability at all costs.
Key Influences on Handling Controversial Issues in Education
Key Influences on Handling Controversial Issues in Education:
- Heavy focus on standardized testing and uniform curricula limits critical discussion.
- Ideological and political education embed state-approved perspectives.
- Authority of teachers and peer monitoring discourage open debate.
- Cultural emphasis on harmony and face-saving leads to indirect communication.
- Sensitive topics (politics, history, social dissent) are avoided or controlled.
adherence to official narratives
The Chinese educational system shapes how Chinese individuals deal with controversial topics by emphasizing social harmony, hierarchical respect, and adherence to official narratives, while discouraging open debate and critical questioning on sensitive issues. From primary school through university, curriculum and teaching practices prioritize conformity to prescribed knowledge, political correctness, and avoidance of conflict over independent critical thinking.
Students are trained to focus on academic excellence and standardized testing rather than exploring multiple perspectives or challenging existing viewpoints. The political role of education includes ideological and moral instruction aimed at reinforcing loyalty to the Communist Party and the state, shaping student attitudes to align with official policies and cultural values of collectivism. Controversial public issues are rarely discussed openly; when introduced, they are framed cautiously and often avoided as topics in classroom discourse.
Higher education incorporates ideological education, political courses, and mechanisms to monitor and influence student views, further limiting the space for free discussion of sensitive topics. The hierarchical teacher-student relationship also discourages open disagreement, reinforcing respect and social order. While recent reforms aim at encouraging creativity and innovation, deep-rooted cultural and political factors continue to restrict how controversial subjects are addressed in education.
subtle, nuanced, and often indirect
Chinese business communication is subtle, nuanced, and often indirect, reflecting its high-context culture. The Chinese prefer harmony and tend to avoid confrontation or outright refusal. Therefore, understanding non-verbal cues is as crucial as comprehending the spoken words. Written communication is formal and respectful, often starting with polite pleasantries before delving into the business matters. Digital communication platforms like WeChat are commonplace, making it an essential tool for communication.
Examples and Patterns
Education: Controversial political or historical topics are often presented with caution, emphasizing official narratives and avoiding open debate to maintain social order. Business: Disagreements are negotiated quietly or through trusted intermediaries, with public harmony maintained at all costs. Politics: Direct criticism of governance or leaders is taboo; euphemistic language prevails. Literature and Media: Controversial themes appear but are often veiled in allegory or irony rather than confronted directly. Daily Life: People avoid discussing taboo subjects in polite conversation; face-saving phrases and indirect refusals are common.
Chinese communication consciously avoids direct engagement with controversial topics to preserve face, social harmony, and hierarchical respect. Controversial issues are managed through indirectness, mediation, and social rituals that prioritize group stability over individual assertion or open debate.
Controversial Topics
The Chinese logic regarding controversial issues is fundamentally shaped by a strong cultural preference for indirect communication, social harmony, and face-saving. In Chinese society, especially in public or professional contexts, controversial or sensitive topics—such as politics, human rights, ethnic tensions (Tibet, Taiwan), corruption, or criticism of authorities—are generally avoided in small talk and routine discourse to prevent discord, loss of face, or social chaos. Open confrontation or direct disagreement is seen as disruptive to relationships and group cohesion.
Across societal domains—education, business, politics, literature, cinema, and everyday interactions—there is a pattern of managing controversial issues through euphemisms, indirect references, mediation, and use of intermediaries. Instead of tackling controversies head-on, Chinese communication favors subtle hints, provisional responses, or shifting the discussion to more neutral areas. Hierarchy and role relationships further moderate the expression of disagreement; lower-status individuals rarely openly challenge superiors, and even leaders often soften their criticisms to maintain harmony.
This communicative style reflects the deep cultural principles of mianzi (face), relational orientation, and the Confucian emphasis on collective social order rather than individual expression or debate. Chinese society prefers stability and relational balance to the lively, often contentious debates common in German culture or the consensus-seeking but open dialog in American contexts.
I was still confused
Even after I understood why people asking me if I’d eaten, I was still confused about why I kept getting worried looks if I said I hadn’t. In fact, this expression is very similar to “how are you?” in English. Typically, people respond with “吃了(chī le)
– I’ve eaten”, no matter whether or not they’ve actually eaten, in the same way you’d say “I’m fine thanks” even if you weren’t actually feeling great.