Xi Jinping's Important Instructions on Basic Education: Li Qiang Did Not Issue Any Directives, and Wang Xiaohong's Attendance at the Conference Raises Questions

Elementary school students are taken by their teachers to pledge their lives to the Communist Party of China. (Video screenshot)

[People News] On July 22, all official media outlets in mainland China published a news article titled "Xi Jinping Made Important Instructions on Basic Education Work." Upon further reading, it becomes clear that this news is intertwined with another report: the National Basic Education Work Conference was held in Beijing on the same day. During the meeting, Xi's instructions were conveyed, and Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended and spoke.

This marks the first time the Chinese Communist Party has convened such a meeting in seven years. The National Basic Education Work Conference held on July 29, 2019, was significantly less prominent than this year's event, where a Vice Premier from the Standing Committee delivered a speech. At that time, it was Sun Chunlan, who was then a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, who attended and spoke. She emphasized the need to thoroughly implement Xi's important discourse on education and to earnestly carry out the directives of Premier Li Keqiang.

In contrast, this year's meeting raises some questions. It is well known that the Ministry of Education, which operates under the State Council, is responsible for education matters. Following Xi's instructions, Premier Li Qiang would typically be expected to issue directives, as education falls within his purview. However, the meeting only conveyed Xi's instructions and made no mention of any directives from Li Qiang.

What has happened to Li Qiang? Why was there no directive issued when it was expected? What changes have taken place in Zhongnanhai? What information is Li Qiang trying to convey by no longer closely following Xi's lead?

In addition to the absence of Li Qiang's directives, this year's attendees at the meeting were notably unusual. Reports indicate that members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, including Minister of the Organization Department Shi Taifeng, Minister of Propaganda Li Shulei, Secretary of the Secretariat and State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, and State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council Wu Zhenglong, were present, sitting on the podium alongside Ding Xuexiang.

While the attendance of the Minister of Propaganda and the Secretary-General of the State Council can be justified, the presence of the Minister of the Organization Department and the Minister of Public Security seems to fall into the realm of 'not fulfilling their proper roles.' This deviation may be intended to underscore the significance of the meeting, yet the Minister of Education, who is most relevant to the discussions, was relegated to the audience. This contrasts sharply with 2019, when the Minister of Education was able to sit on the podium with Sun Chunlan, highlighting the CCP's growing emphasis on form over substance.

So, what directives has Xi, known for his penchant for issuing 'instructions,' provided regarding basic education? Upon examination, the key focus appears to be on 'persistently using the Party's innovative theory to shape and educate,' a phrase absent from the 2019 meeting. Ding Xuexiang, in his remarks, emphasized the need to be guided by 'Xi Thought' and to 'deeply understand the political, people-oriented, and strategic attributes of education.' What does this signify?

In China, basic education encompasses early childhood education (typically for ages 3 to 5), compulsory education (generally for ages 6 to 15), high school education (usually for ages 16 to 19), and literacy education. According to the latest directives from Xi Jinping and remarks by Ding, the Communist Party of China (CPC) plans to intensify brainwashing education starting from early childhood. In fact, kindergartens and primary and secondary schools on the mainland have already initiated 'red' brainwashing education.

The author has heard from friends in mainland China that their children in kindergarten or primary school are being exposed to red education through various activities, such as singing revolutionary songs and pledging loyalty to the Party during the 'July 1' celebrations, as well as writing small articles expressing their love for the Party. Parents are overwhelmed and can only choose to let their children either avoid these activities or simply go along with them.

Following the release of the so-called spirit of the National Basic Education Work Conference, it is anticipated that kindergartens and primary and secondary schools across the country will launch a series of activities again. This is particularly alarming for children who lack the ability to discern, as the only outcome will be the cultivation of 'red dragon cubs' instead of true 'human beings'. The CPC is indeed relentless in its efforts to undermine humanity!

(First published in People News) △