Hu Xijin's Pension Sparks Controversy: 15 Young People Support One Old Hu!

Photo: 2005 slogan — “You can’t rely on the government for old-age support.”(Screenshot from the internet)

[People News] Hu Xijin, the former editor-in-chief of the Chinese Communist Party's media outlet Global Times, has recently become embroiled in a pension controversy. This situation arose on September 1 when the Chinese authorities implemented mandatory social security, which Hu Xijin publicly endorsed. Following this, several online accounts revealed that his monthly pension could be as high as 33,000 yuan. Despite Hu Xijin's denial, netizens have continued to pursue the matter vigorously.

The introduction of 'mandatory social security' on September 1 has provoked a significant backlash among the mainland population. On August 10, Hu Xijin expressed his support for 'mandatory social security,' describing it as a 'national goodwill.' However, he also acknowledged that the current pension for farmers is only 100-200 yuan per month, highlighting the stark disparity within the system as a 'social reality.' He criticised opponents as 'hypocritical saints' and even suggested they return to the countryside to care for their parents. He later deleted these radical comments. Netizens sarcastically pointed out that he is the 'extremely hypocritical saint.'

Following this, it was revealed that Hu Xijin's pension could be as high as 33,000 yuan. The question 'How much is Hu Xijin's pension?' became a hot topic online. On August 19, Hu Xijin clarified in a post, 'Today, for some inexplicable reason, someone asked me to treat them, and there are women in their 40s and 50s teasing me on WeChat, saying they want to take care of me and partner with me... I just realised it’s because of the rumour about my pension being 33,000.'

While Hu Xijin denied the specific figure of 33,000 yuan, he has not publicly disclosed the actual amount of his pension or provided proof of his salary.

Some netizens speculate that Hu Xijin, a former bureau-level official and the editor-in-chief of the Global Times, likely receives a pension between 20,000 and 25,000 yuan per month due to his high base contributions under an annual salary system. While this figure is lower than what has been circulating online, it still significantly surpasses the average income of ordinary citizens. Additionally, a blogger known as 'Jing Lou Guan Cha' has suggested that Hu Xijin's income from social media could be around 300,000 yuan. Many netizens concurred that his earnings from social media are likely much higher than his pension.

According to information released by the Ministry of Finance of the Communist Party of China in 2022, the shortfall in China's basic pension reached 700 billion yuan in 2021. A recent report on pensions in China published by the insurance industry association indicates that this shortfall could escalate to between 8 trillion and 10 trillion yuan over the next decade.

The mandatory social insurance that took effect on September 1 has left small and medium-sized business owners in distress, with a wave of closures and unemployment expected to follow. Many netizens have questioned why Hu Xijin, who enjoys substantial retirement benefits as a member of the system, insists that grassroots citizens shoulder such a heavy burden, creating a satirical effect reminiscent of the phrase 'Why not eat meat porridge?'

The pension Hu Xijin receives each month is equivalent to the social insurance contributions of 15 young people, prompting netizens to angrily remark, '15 young people support one old Hu,' which they deem extremely unfair! △