End-of-Year Report: Asking About 2024—What Kind of Era Is This

On December 22, Chinese activist Jieli Jian organized a protest outside the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles. Protesters not only expressed solidarity with Jiangxi internet personality and rights advocate Li Yixue but also demanded the CCP release all individuals persecuted under the guise of "mental illness," including He Fangmei, Dong Yaoqiong, and Wu Yanan. (Photo provided by Jieli Jian/VOA)

People News– "If you had to summarize China’s 2024 with one word, how would you describe this era?"

At the end of 2024, ten Chinese observers shared their observations and reflections with Voice of America, covering dimensions like the economy, politics, society, and people's livelihoods.

Turbulence

"Now, ordinary people are unemployed, bankrupt... in this context, the 'three-child policy' was introduced, but after three years, it has essentially failed. Young people aren’t getting married, and those who do get married don’t want children because they can’t afford to raise them."

— Senior Media Person Gao Yu

In the increasingly tense political climate in China, very few people dare to accept interviews from Voice of America. Beijing-based senior media person Gao Yu is an exception.

She has been sentenced three times for her writing, and the oppression she has faced over decades has never stopped. This year, the authorities’ crackdown intensified. In August, her home’s internet, mobile, and landline were all cut off, severely disrupting her life at the age of 80.

However, Gao Yu said she would not back down, and even if she has to "steal internet," she will continue to speak out. In her own words, "Freedom and writing are my destiny."

"My summary of 2024 is 'turbulence.' The first is that the economy has serious problems; second is public security, with national chaos everywhere," Gao Yu said.

In her view, China’s economy has been driven to its worst point in over 40 years of reform and opening-up. She believes the real root of the economic problems lies in the real estate sector, followed by the fiscal crises faced by local governments, which lead to a financial crisis, overproduction in businesses, insufficient purchasing power, a surge in unemployment, frequent violent incidents, a population crisis, and a series of domino effects.

Crisis Everywhere

"Political, economic, and social crises are emerging everywhere. This presents severe difficulties for the Chinese Communist Party, one after another."

— Economist Xu Chenggang

"The key words for China in 2024 are 'crisis everywhere' and 'serious difficulties,'" said economist Xu Chenggang, a senior researcher at Stanford University’s China Economic and Institutional Research Center.

Xu Chenggang pointed out that crises have already erupted in many areas, particularly in finance and fiscal policy, which are visible to the whole world. Unlike market economies, China’s rulers use administrative methods to control and freeze the market, causing financial and fiscal crises to worsen slowly and steadily. This deterioration is still ongoing. The enormous overcapacity is impacting international markets, which then returns to affect Chinese society. Meanwhile, the authorities' severe restrictions on freedom of speech and basic rights have triggered numerous social crises.

Endgame Battle

"In recent years, Xi Jinping’s various absurd policies have pushed everyone to this point. These cannot be reversed just by printing a few trillion yuan."

— Political Commentator Lao Zhou Hengmei

"This unprecedented economic stimulus policy is the Communist Party's 'endgame battle,'" said political commentator Lao Zhou Hengmei, who has been censored within China's Great Firewall.

The blogger, now residing in Singapore, pointed out that private entrepreneurs have lost confidence, foreign capital is withdrawing from China, the public has lost hope for the future, and even the ruling Chinese Communist Party has had to admit, for the first time, that China’s economy has problems.

"I think they’ve seen the latest internal data, and they’re really panicking," he said.

Lao Zhou Hengmei mentioned that at the end of September, the CCP launched the most significant economic stimulus policy in history—ramping up efforts in the stock market, real estate, currency, and public consumption... with the printing press running full speed to try to save the economy. Despite knowing that printing money to rescue the market is akin to drinking poison to quench thirst, they felt they had no other choice.

Stalemate

"Since Xi Jinping came to power, he has constantly made enemies for himself. In addition, his various backward policies have caused dissatisfaction—how can he still maintain a firm grip on power?"

— Scholar Hu Ping

When discussing China’s political landscape in 2024, Chinese scholar Hu Ping, now based in New York, uses the word "stalemate" to describe the situation. He believes the conflict between Xi Jinping’s ambition to maintain and consolidate personal dictatorship and the anti-Xi forces is irreconcilable, with the outcome still unclear.

Hu Ping said that looking at developments over the past year, Xi Jinping’s personal power has faced considerable resistance, and it seems that his health has also become an issue. Discontent with Xi spans all sectors of society.

He also pointed out that unlike democratic countries with transparent political systems, in communist authoritarian regimes, the opposition’s leaders, their influence, and their strength are not clear before the outcome is revealed. However, people can sense this and reasonably speculate that "there must be a strong and widespread anti-Xi force."

Collapse

"He (Xi Jinping) didn’t realize that he’s not a god, he’s just a person."

— Writer Ha Jin

Chinese-American writer and Boston University professor Ha Jin describes China in 2024 as being in "collapse."

In his view, a few years ago, Xi Jinping and his team unintentionally led China’s ship into dangerous waters, and now that ship has clearly entered the iceberg zone.

"The ship has already collided and is in disarray; if things go wrong, the whole ship could sink in an instant," he said.

Ha Jin criticized Xi Jinping in a 2021 interview with Voice of America for his greed for power and lack of achievements during his time in office. Not only did he squander the people's wealth, but he also destroyed the U.S.-China relationship that several generations had carefully cultivated. Three years later, Ha Jin’s views remain unchanged.

"The Communist Party is running out of steam now. If Xi Jinping isn’t replaced, it will be the end for this country—it will truly collapse, and if things go badly, it could spiral completely out of control," he said.

Disorder

"Under the shadow of a dictator, we are heading toward an era our parents and grandparents once lived through—an era that is dark, poor, cruel, and mentally disturbed."

— Writer Murong Xuecun

"If I had to describe China in 2024 with one word, I would choose 'disorder,'" said Chinese writer Murong Xuecun.

In 2021, one of China’s most famous online writers, Murong Xuecun, fled China to publish a nonfiction book about the COVID-19 pandemic. He now lives in exile in Australia.

Looking back at the past year, Murong Xuecun expresses a deep sense of helplessness. He said that in 2024, China’s economy is increasingly depressed, unemployment is more severe, some people have fled to foreign countries, others have lost their fortunes, some are left with no way out, and many young people are committing suicide together. Throughout this year, China has also witnessed many tragic incidents, with many innocent people dying in the process.

Murong Xuecun said that while many people know why these individuals died, understand the reasons behind China’s economic downturn, and even know who should be held responsible, due to pressure and fear, very few dare to speak out publicly.

"Even just saying that name could bring disaster upon you," he said.

Martyrdom

"China is often in a state of anarchy. The government’s control ability is very poor. The living conditions of ordinary people are miserable, which leads to an increasing number of martyrdom acts."

— Internet Celebrity Luo Yufeng

"The most popular term in 2024 is 'martyrdom,'" said Luo Yufeng, one of China’s first "internet celebrities" known as "Fengjie," who remains active online even after moving to the United States.

The term "martyrdom" originates from Zhang Xianzhong, one of the leaders of the late Ming dynasty peasant uprisings who declared himself the "Emperor of the Great West." Historical records state that Zhang Xianzhong carried out numerous massacres in Sichuan, resulting in a drastic population decline. In recent years, his name has been frequently used to refer to indiscriminate killing incidents.

Luo Yufeng pointed out that the current state of public security in China is dire. Xi Jinping’s policies have caused economic decline, fewer job opportunities, persistently high unemployment rates, and immense pressure on the population.

"When pressure reaches a certain point, it leads to such 'martyrdom' behavior, where people randomly attack others; there’s also a group called the 'Boxers,' who specifically target foreigners. This situation is very alarming," she said.

According to an incomplete online statistic, by mid-November, there had been over 90 "martyrdom" incidents across China, averaging one every four days.

Extremism

"Today’s China is like a pressure cooker about to explode, and this pressure is making the behavior of Chinese people increasingly extreme."

— Political Blogger Toronto Fanglian

"If I had to sum up China in 2024 with one word, I would choose 'extremism,'" said Toronto Fanglian, a political blogger based in Canada.

Known for using the image of the character Doraemon, the blogger stated that with China’s economic downturn in 2024, social contradictions have intensified, and more extreme behaviors are emerging among the public. In the past, major incidents like these would happen only a few times a year; now, "there’s a small incident every day, a major one every three days," with victims including students, citizens, foreigners, and even government officials.

Toronto Fanglian also pointed to another example of extremism: Some "pink" influencers within the Great Firewall, who were previously satisfied with attacking "anti-government" voices, have now started targeting fellow patriotic influencers.

In 2024, former Global Times editor Hu Xijin and extreme nationalist blogger Sima Nan, known for his anti-American stance, were both banned from speaking.

"There’s a sense of 'loyalty is absolute, or it’s absolutely disloyal,' reminding people of the Cultural Revolution," Toronto Fanglian said.

Decline

"China’s economy is in decline, the government’s governance capacity is in decline, the public’s confidence in the future is in decline, and social order and morals are collapsing."

— Political Scholar Wu Guoguang

"It’s not easy being a Chinese citizen," sighed political scholar Wu Guoguang, a senior researcher at Stanford University’s China Economic and Institutional Research Center.

In his view, 2024’s China is "without the sun, no new things, just fog and darkness." If he had to choose one word to describe it, it would be "decline."

Wu Guoguang noted that the current chaos in China is the cumulative effect of Xi Jinping’s administration over the past few years. After the pandemic ended, people hoped for an economic rebound and a return to normal, but those expectations were not met. The authorities may not want to improve the economy, but they are more focused on maintaining their grip on power. Political structures and policies are not designed for the benefit of the people.

"Hope is increasingly hard to see. That’s what I see for China in 2024," he said.

Purgatory

"The disasters facing the Chinese people have not hit rock bottom. The country is still rapidly descending into chaos."

— Former Central Party School Professor Cai Xia

"If I had to describe China’s 2024 with one word, I would say 'purgatory,'" said Cai Xia, a former professor at the Central Party School who is now in exile in the United States.

Cai Xia pointed out that after three years of the pandemic, China’s economy has not recovered; instead, it has plummeted in freefall, and the most immediate consequence has been the severe hardship faced by the lower classes.

As a result, the internet is flooded with videos showing: elderly women in their 90s selling vegetables on the street, collapsing by their stalls and silently passing away; young children left without care; vibrant middle-class elites falling into poverty, losing hope, and committing suicide or jumping from buildings; a surge in violent crimes and murders.

Cai Xia said that China has fallen into a state of disorder and chaos, and the public is suffering deeply. At the root of this is the 75 years of totalitarian rule by the Chinese Communist Party and one-party dictatorship.

"Only by changing the one-party rule system can China have a future. Otherwise, the people of this country will be like living in purgatory, with no end to their suffering," she said.

At the end of 2024, Voice of America reached out to its readers, listeners, and viewers to gather the key terms they associate with China in 2024. Here are the words they provided:

Depression, Overcapacity, Decline, Selling Iron to Cover Losses, "Let it Rot," Censorship, Lost Souls Everywhere, Absurdity, Magic, Miserable, Crazy Old Age, Botched Projects, Collapse, Disaster, Deflation, Stagflation, Lying Flat, Preparing for War, Stagnation, Garbage Time, Government Forcing People to Rebel, Mutual Harm, Difficulty, Decay, Chaos

Janet Tian, a media worker from mainland China, reflected on 2024 with the word "Whirlpool."

She wrote: "The macro environment, economic downturn, the media environment that prioritizes national security, invisible reproductive confidence, an uncertain future — these seem to be an era's torrents that cannot be changed by individuals, as if they are part of a massive whirlpool, unavoidable."

Born in turbulent times, she questioned, "What can ordinary people do?"

Writer Mu Rong Xuecun said: "At the end of this year, in this moment of global uncertainty, I hope all my friends can first protect themselves, protect their families, and protect their conscience."

Scholar Hu Ping said: "We don't require everyone to boldly speak out with their differing political opinions, but when we see others persecuted for expressing their views, we should stand up and say no."

Scholar Cai Xia said: "Especially in difficult times, we need to huddle together for warmth, and try to make everyone feel the warmth of others. Keep yourself from collapsing mentally and believe in the future."

Political Scholar Wu Guoguang said: "Everyone must be responsible for their own fate and think for themselves. I hope every Chinese citizen can endure fewer sufferings in their daily life."

Writer Ha Jin said: "Be an ordinary person. Value life and livelihood more. Don’t believe the propaganda, because much of it is false."

Netizen "free...ha" said: "Try to live. Some things cannot be changed in the short term, and the more you struggle, the more painful it becomes. Live as much as you can, waiting for the day when light comes."

Not the End

In early 2024, 27-year-old Xia Chaochuan fled China after being detained twice for participating in the Shanghai White Paper Movement and Halloween protests. She spent a period in what she described as "hellish" conditions.

Now in Europe, Xia Chaochuan has thrown herself into human rights work and is restarting her life.

"It’s not as gloomy, oppressive, or bitter here," she said.

In 2024, Chinese authorities initiated a large-scale crackdown on Halloween in Shanghai, turning it into a nearly as sensitive a day as June 4th.

"I thought people would give up, but I saw their defiance, just like two years ago on Urumqi Middle Road," Xia Chaochuan said.

At the end of 2024, another popular gathering reminded people of the "White Paper Movement" from two years earlier.

In early November, university students in Zhengzhou, Henan, launched a "Night Ride to Kaifeng" movement, which quickly escalated into a mass movement with about 200,000 participants, spreading to other cities.

A few days later, the movement was urgently suppressed by authorities, and some universities implemented campus lockdowns.

Veteran media figure Gao Yu from Beijing pointed out: "Kaifeng has a profound symbolic meaning, showing that the current university students are demanding to break through the censorship and call for freedom of speech."

Looking at the faces of the vibrant youth in the videos, Gao Yu couldn’t help but wonder: How many of them will find jobs in the future? How many will be unemployed? How many will have to work as construction workers, delivery people, or return home to farm, living off their families?

"This is the reality of China," she said.

(Translated from Voice of America)