IAmA low-level functionary of Chinese Communist Party and college teacher in China. AMA.

Does the Chinese censorship of internet access (that we in the West hear so much about) affect your ability to browse Reddit? Does your position in the Communist Party allow you additional access? If I mention Whinnie the Pooh will you be able to see this post?

(OK, seems reddit was banned since 8/12)

No, reddit is not banned and I have no additional access privilege (this is fact, please keep reading, I'm not denying the censorship). Yet China's Internet is a walled garden (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_platform) and most trending social network apps are banned but reddit and quora are really exceptions (I don't know why, really). China's "domestic internet" is like the mixture of "1984" and "Brave New World", it's the most centralized ecosystem over the internet world, it is not because of the government's censorship but business environment. People use proprietary apps for everything and many people even don't know what is the url/domain and they have no conception to the open web or e-mail. Check this out if you want to know the view from Chinese technology enthusiasts: https://medium.com/@liruyi/bye-bye-wechat-688148f53dfd.

("Walled garden" is NOT flatter, it's a commonly used expression in tech news and blog post, read Wikipedia above.)

About censorship:

China's Media censorship is infamous all around the world and that's quite a complicated question to answer. Most people realized what happened and they know the censorship exist (there are tons of memes about that), but most people has accustomed to live under this kind of censorship and don't think deeper. Credibility of government has been damaged but because of some kind of Inertial thinking (or Cognitive inertia), most people support the current government with no brain and they think the censorship is necessary in some extent to "keep the society stable", sigh.

Guessing you didn't see the part about Winnie the Pooh

Ha, I saw it.

Were you taught of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989? If not, what was your first reaction when you discovered this? Is it taboo in your social circle?

I know this subject is often censored, and was wondering if you as an individual know about it, and how its discovery affected you.

I was taught but in a censored way (when I'm in high school), most people know but avoid talking about that (about the tank man, Zhao, and so on).

The view of this event is actually disputed in China. Almost all people sympathize the victims but many people support government's "solution" due to pragmatism (they think it's the only solution to keep the stability of the country). Personally my view is: this the stain of the party and Deng, that's it ("that's it" doesn't mean I'm not feeling bad about this, it's more like I can't find a proper expression due to my poor English).

This event is a devastating strike to Chinese humanities and art. Discussions on serious social issues were very popular among the intellectual class in the 1980s (you may not believe, some serious literature and philosophy tome like Kant were the best-selling books among the young people on that time). After 1989, all freshmen in university have to attend a short-term military training (more a kind of obedience training) and their activities in campus are under surveillance.

What's up with those Uighur concentration camps?

https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/96hf1x/iama_lowlevel_functionary_of_chinese_communist/e41f1zi/

How do you reconcile the free markets in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen with Maoist doctrine?

I don't think economy aspect of Maoism and Leninism are right, that's it. The hilarious thing is… The ultra left economic policy to China is just like constitution fundamentalism to the United States.

A book I recommend (Rise of the Red Engineers: The Cultural Revolution and the Origins of China's New Class): https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=16889

With your Job do you travel much and therefore see outside of China? Resulting from that do you see how much you are censored in China? If so, how badly censored are you?

Most people in China "can afford" to travel abroad but language barrier and visa is the main obstruction.

China's Media censorship is infamous all around the world and that's quite a complicated question to answer. Most people realized what happened and they know the censorship exist (there are tons of memes about that), but most people has accustomed to live under this kind of censorship and don't think deeper. Credibility of government has been damaged but because of some kind of inertial thinking, most people support the current government with no brain and they think the censorship is necessary in some extent to "keep the society stable", sigh.

Tell me about Social Credit ? The concept really scared me when I heard about it. Also, greetings from Brasil!

Edit: Social Credit!

It' s credit system running by Alibaba, don't know more beyond that… What deserves to be noticed from this product is the abuse of big data and artificial intelligence in China (most people here haven't found their dark side and the leak of private information is a serious problem in China). I might write more about this, give me some time.

What are the government/social sentiments of someone marrying a non-chinese and at what level are their bi-racial kids accepted?

Internationalism is the offical statement of the government, but on this topic, many people behave like redneck in the United States. Yet another hilarious fact.

What is the public opinion of the US in China? Do you see us as economic partners? Potential enemies? Rivals? I feel we are very interwoven in our economic systems but also often at odds when it comes to global spheres of influence.

This is a commonly requested question and very easy to cause misleading, misunderstanding or stereotype. I need some time to write a good reply (I'll edit this later), cheers.

What is your ideal end goal for a communist world? Anarcho communism, or perhaps a more government based system

I'm more into Social democracy just like liberal parties in Europe and North America.

Political spectrum of Chinese people are a bit complicated, some "radical left/right option" in "western" countries are considered to be undisputed choice in China, for instance, almost all Chinese people support abortion based on individual's free will and "women should get equal pay for equal work" is almost a common sense in China, yet lots of Chinese people admire social darwinism and chauvinism… It's strange, right? Pragmatism and pre-80s Leninism legacies affect today's China a lot.

請問你對繁體/正體中文及簡體中文有何見解？

對於香港本土意識形態以及獨立運動有何見解？

OP, i know China's level of English is fairly high but your proof isn't that strong. You might want to add more to your proof or PM the mods.

Personally I think it depends on the thoughts of Hong Kong citizens (so do Taiwan, Catalonia, etc.), I personally not recommend to do so, but this is definitely a discussable topic.

Some chauvinist in China haven't realized it's not about the economic level and military power that make Hong Kong and Taiwan dislike the mainland China, it's all about the lack of respect for self-determination and humanities.

In China, if you express ANY views about supporting the independence movement of Taiwan, Hong Kong etc. (even you don't support but think it's a discussable topic like my opinion above), you'll be pissed off by general publics, It's totally an undiscussable topic in China.

How do you feel about the Chinese government putting your Uyghur citizens in concentration camps and systematically eradicating the Tibetan people and their culture?

Edit: facts

Actually, I think I know much more than you expected on this topic. But since I've post photos in Imugr and and I didn't use Tor at the very beginning, I'm afraid I can't say anything about this, sorry.

About Han nationalism, "Ethnic minorities" in China:

First, I would say I definitely know, as a Han male, I am privileged, and we (Han male) are currently the narrative subject (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subject_(philosophy)) of China’s society. I'm self considered to be an Internationalist.

Here are some facts and my opinions:

1. (Fact) In official claims, all ethnic group are equal. The placard on Tiananmen reads "Long Live the Great Unity of the World's Peoples".

2. (Fact) About 90% of population in China are Han. Many Han people in eastern China may not meet ethnic minorities a lot and hold stereotypes to the ethnic minorities group. There are similar situations in Japan and Eastern Europe countries.

3. (Opinion) According to my personal observation, most people in China have no conception of Postcolonialism, Social Constructivism and Essentialism. For topics like ethnic and immigration, most Chinese would fall to the conservative side, they would say "it's common sense".

4. (Opinion) According to my personal observation, most people in China don't know "Correlation does not imply causation". Thus, when I say I against both Islamophobia and radical Wahhabism terrorists, many people felt confused, they thought anyone who against terrorism should piss off every individual Muslim, just like the thought of some Western radical conservatives.

5. (Opinion & Fact) Ethnic minorities in China are highly stereotyped and objectified (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectification). But the government outgives some favors to Ethnic minorities, like exemption from being responsible for minor offences, and extra points in national college entrance exam (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirmative_action_in_China). This makes some (Han) people feel unhappy ("五十六个民族五十五个加分", "一等洋人二等官，三等少民四等汉") and this is one of the origins of the revival of Han Supremacism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_chauvinism).

6. (Opinion) You can refer nowadays Han Supremacism (radical Han Nationalism) to Alt Right in the United States.

7. (Fact) Bayanqolu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayanqolu) is the only ethnic-minority official serving as a provincial-level Party Secretary.

I rest my case.

How does young generation feel about.?

1) Term limit removal of Xi. 2) Government pushing for 2 children.

1. Holy actual balls. (Some elders include my parents thought it's good cause "it would give him more time to 'make China great and strong' just like Putin to Russia". Damn it.)

2. This is a part of family planning policy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_planning_policy). No matter how many children are "allowed to be born" for one family, it's still planned. Due to the Consumerism and status anxiety of middle class, many young people even don't want to raise a single child. I'm afraid this condition would make female/LGBT rights a lot worse. Many memes about "forced fertilization (一人不生全村受精)" has born hah.