The CCP Prefers Yes-Men Over Talented Leaders

The number of applicants for the 2025 civil service exam has exceeded 3.4 million for the first time. Pictured is a testing site for the civil service exam in Nanjing in 2014. (Getty Images)

[People News] Xi Jinping’s years-long purge has even brought down Zhang Youxia, one of the most respected figures in the Chinese military. This has helped many CCP officials understand Xi’s approach to personnel selection: whether someone has achievements is not important—the most important thing is political loyalty. What the leadership prefers are obedient yes-men rather than capable generals. As long as officials demonstrate absolute loyalty to Xi, they can “lie flat” and collect their government salary without producing real accomplishments, and they will not become targets for removal.

Once this mentality spreads, the “lying-flat” culture in the bureaucracy becomes even more entrenched. Young people preparing for China’s civil service exams have also noticed this trend. As a result, some internet users have compiled rankings of the “most relaxed government jobs,” listing positions considered suitable for a laid-back lifestyle. These lists have become popular among young people preparing for the civil service exam.

Recently, an article titled “The Civil Servant ‘Lying-Flat’ Map: A Full Analysis of the 10 Most Relaxed Positions” has been widely circulated online. Written in a satirical tone, it says that for some exam candidates, the core logic is: “Study for two years to enjoy decades of lying flat.”

The article lists ten departments as comfortable “safe havens,” including the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the Meteorological Bureau, the Earthquake Administration, the Bureau of Retired Cadres, local science associations, writers’ federations, supply and marketing cooperatives, and local gazetteer offices. These agencies are described as having lighter responsibilities and lower pressure, making them so-called “golden positions.”

The article further explains the appeal of each department. For example, the trade union is portrayed as ideal for candidates who treat “serving the people” as a slogan rather than a KPI. The CPPCC is described as a “relaxed place for discussing state affairs.” At the Federation of Industry and Commerce, overtime work is said to be a luxury. The Meteorological Bureau’s forecasting work follows predictable patterns, and with sufficient research funding, employees can even write a couple of academic papers during idle periods. Other recommended agencies include the Earthquake Administration and the Bureau of Retired Cadres.

Another self-media article titled “In 2026, Enter These 8 Institutions and You Can Lie Flat Immediately” also listed state-owned enterprises such as China Tobacco and the State Grid as relaxed jobs. However, it “responsibly” reminded readers that these positions still generally require performance evaluations.

These discussions have become hot topics on Chinese social media. Numerous posts analyze “lying-flat positions within the system” or offer guides to the “most leisurely government agencies,” providing direction for those preparing for the civil service exam.

In response, the CCP’s official newspaper People’s Daily published a commentary on March 2 titled “Beware of Civil Service Exam Guides Promoting ‘Lying Flat.’” The article claimed that online discussions about “lying-flat job rankings” or “guides to the most relaxed government agencies” are misleading young people.

According to the party newspaper, young people choosing the civil service represent a commitment to responsibility and duty. It argued that guides promoting “lying-flat positions” exaggerate extreme cases and unfairly portray the civil service workforce.

However, the article triggered ridicule among users on the platform X. Some comments included:

• “The CCP government doesn’t provide social safety nets, yet it criticizes young people for wanting to lie flat. How shameless can they be?”

• “This is hilarious. Everyone knows why people take the civil service exam. Don’t pretend it’s about responsibility.”

• “By that logic, the online commentators working in prisons are the most qualified civil servants—they’re extremely ‘responsible.’”

Others said:

• “State media always blames systemic problems on young people—same old routine.”

• “When a dynasty enters its final stage of collapse, lying flat during the regime’s garbage time is the best option.”

For decades in Chinese society, government jobs have been called the “golden rice bowl” or “iron rice bowl.” The phrase means that once someone enters government service, their position and salary are permanently secure. Unlike private companies with the intense “996” work schedule, civil servants generally enjoy stable pay, benefits that increase with seniority, and relatively light workloads until retirement—followed by generous pensions. As a result, many young people compete fiercely to pass the civil service exam.

In recent years, the CCP authorities have claimed to be addressing the “lying-flat” phenomenon in the bureaucracy through special campaigns targeting inaction or slow performance. Beijing has tried to send a message through propaganda that government jobs are not comfortable shelters but positions that carry social responsibility.

However, these political campaigns are often run by the same bureaucrats who themselves practice “lying flat.” As critics note, they tend to produce “thunder without rain”—making a lot of noise at the start but eventually fading away without real results.

(People News first published) △