Recently, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has suddenly escalated its crackdown on citizens’ “wall-climbing” behavior. Such actions have caused harm to normal academic and research activities within the country. Despite the authorities’ suppression, many internet users who circumvent censorship mock the authorities for their inability to fully control the internet. Analysts believe that the CCP’s internet censorship that restricts people’s freedom is self-destructive and is an inevitable measure for a regime facing a crisis.
The term “wall-climbing” refers to internet users using technological means such as VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to access foreign websites.
In recent days, multiple internal documents from the CCP Cyberspace Administration, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and various provinces have been leaked on overseas social media platforms, revealing official efforts to crack down on cross-border data connections. Service providers are required to cooperate in restricting overseas access for end users.
Social media circulated posters at Zhengzhou Vocational and Technical College urging students to “stay away from illegal VPNs” and proclaiming “students, stop wall-climbing.” In collaboration with China Unicom, the Henan Zhengzhou Public Security Bureau posted posters on campus promoting network security, warning that students who violate regulations by climbing the wall or compromising national security will face legal consequences.
It is reported that students have been interviewed or dealt with for climbing the wall.
Well-known social media figure Wen Zhao shared a post saying that if one thinks climbing the wall is just a preference for the politically dissatisfied, they are mistaken. The crackdown on wall-climbing that began in April mainly affects four categories of people:
1. Programmers and software engineers, who need to stay synchronized with international counterparts. They need to submit code to open-source repositories, exchange experiences with colleagues on forums, seek help with problems, and access the latest technical documentation. Climbing the wall is a daily routine for them, with this group consisting of millions of people.
2. E-commerce operators, including Chinese owners of online stores on platforms such as Shopify, Amazon, and TEMU, the number of which is difficult to estimate. The operating revenue of China’s cross-border e-commerce in 2025 was 2.75 trillion yuan. Climbing the wall directly threatens a significant industry. Approximately half of the active sellers on the Amazon platform come from China. According to a report from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, there are 1.2 million entities engaged in cross-border e-commerce, affecting tens of millions of people in related industries. Xi Jinping’s move negatively impacts millions of people.
3. Finance professionals who need real-time monitoring of international market dynamics; and international legal professionals who need to keep information exchange with clients smooth.
4. Universities and research institutions that need to access the “outside network” to conduct research and find materials.
One netizen added, “There are also a large number of digital nomads working online, a considerable number of whom can bring in foreign exchange.”
Wen Zhao expressed on YouTube that based on his observation of video traffic, there has been a reduction in traffic from climbing the wall. In the background, the IP directly comes from China, indicating that these individuals do not need to climb the wall, as the CCP opens a small door for them on the wall, presumably monitored by the internet police, institutions requiring connections to special foreign media, the army of internet trolls in prisons, various propaganda agencies, etc., due to their daily work needs of accessing the outside network.
Wen Zhao stated that personnel at universities, research institutions, and some enterprises require smooth access to information outside the wall for their work, for which they need to apply to the relevant authorities for connecting to the international internet. This portion of traffic has also seen a slight decrease recently.
In addition to posters and group chats warning students against illegal wall-climbing, many mainland universities have issued notices requiring staff and students to use specially designated “International Academic Resource Access Services” to browse relevant foreign websites.
The South China Normal University, Guangdong University of Technology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin Electronic Technology University, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Shihhezi University, Central South University, and other universities have opened “specific channels for international academic resource access service.” By logging into their personal accounts within the campus network environment, staff and students can use “scholar.edu.cn” to browse foreign websites commonly used for academic research, such as Google, GitHub, Wikipedia, etc. If they wish to watch YouTube videos, they need to submit the video information for approval first.
The authorities state that this service is for personal use only, cannot be lent to others or share access content, and require staff and students to “standardize search behavior.”
Current affairs commentator Li Lin told Dajiyuan that this recognized “whitelist” system has been prevalent in the past, where the CCP tightens control on civilian wall-climbing while providing controlled access for specific groups like diplomats, foreign trade companies, and research institutions.
Li Lin mentioned that the CCP is aware that completely shutting off the external internet will impact its research and international cooperation. Therefore, they allow universities to attempt damage control using special methods. However, access to the external internet under strict surveillance limits researchers’ use of resources, combined with self-censorship, affecting genuine academic requirements and restricting the improvement of China’s academic standards. The CCP knowingly chooses this self-destructive method of internet censorship for the sake of its political security, making it an inevitable move for a regime facing a crisis.
Overseas netizens commented, “Xi Jinping is pushing back Chinese human rights and freedom of speech by decades!” “The CCP is officially isolating itself. Chinese people are truly pitiful!”
The CCP’s official actions have evidently made wall-climbing significantly more challenging for citizens, impacting the underground VPN industry. However, many netizens who climb the wall to leave comments overseas have expressed that the CCP’s efforts are futile.
“It doesn’t affect me at all. I have long been prepared. I can always climb the wall.”
“During this time, I use the built-in VPN on my Pixel every day without any problems.”
“In conclusion: cannot be stopped. If they really try to enforce strict orders, it will bring countless disturbances to society.”
“So checking VPNs is just a campaign; they clamp down for a while after receiving orders from above, then relax. It’s clear that the isolation method no longer works today.”
Some netizens said, “Climbing the wall is not a solution; breaking down the wall is the way out.”
An account displaying the flag of the Republic of China stated, “So logically, it is not possible to implement such a massive blockade. It must be ‘strict legislation, lenient enforcement.’ It’s also unknown why someone would think of this tactic, harming the enemy more than oneself.”
Gan Wen, who claims to be an incomplete elementary school graduate, a third-rate programmer, and a wall enthusiast for over a decade, with experiences including evading border control and currently residing in the Netherlands, posted on a platform on April 15. He mentioned that the market for wall-climbing software in China remains a blue ocean. The reason is simple: the desire for freedom cannot be suppressed or eliminated. Regardless of how strict the blockade becomes, there will always be people wanting to see the world beyond the wall, tapping into potential user base of over a billion people. For various reasons, many Chinese people do not have the ability or determination to escape China, but every month, for 10 to 20 yuan, they exchange for a window to see the world, and there is always a significant number of willing participants.
Gan Wen mentioned that he helped a friend set up a commercial VPN program, which has been operational for one month, earning nearly 100,000 yuan. He provided the recent transaction data for the one-month trial operation by his friend. “I hope more people can join this industry that benefits the nation and the people, even if it’s just for money! You can do it to make money but still contribute to democracy and freedom!”
Wen Zhao also mentioned in his program that the CCP aims to conduct precise and penetrative surveillance, although it may not achieve Xi Jinping’s expectations. The defining characteristic of the Xi Jinping era is an unfinished job. It is uncertain how far the internet blockade will progress this time. People will eventually find various ways to cope based on their own interests.
Bill Summers, the CEO of a dynamic network technology company dedicated to helping mainland Chinese people overcome internet censorship, told Dajiyuan that the CCP aims to prevent various forms of wall-climbing or the dissemination of freedom of information. However, individuals who can turn VPN services into an industry will surely find ways to counteract these efforts. (Reference: Previous Report – CCP’s Cross-Border Internet Control Upgrade Signals Crisis?)