The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official media recently released the so-called “Top 10 Domestic News of 2024.” Most of the news highlighted the activities of CCP leader Xi Jinping and other official high-ranking members, while major disasters such as the Zhuhai car accident and the collapse of the Meida Expressway were not included. Many netizens criticized the official media for deliberately creating a false impression of prosperity, being empty and false, and deceiving the world and the people.
The CCP’s Xinhua News Agency released the annual Top 10 news on December 29, with the CCP and Xi Jinping still being the main focus, interspersed with breakthroughs in fields like aerospace technology. In terms of people’s livelihood, there were announcements of incremental retirement reform and a package of incremental policies deployed by the CCP.
The Top 10 Domestic News of 2024 selected by CCTV, the CCP’s official television broadcaster, also praised the so-called achievements of the CCP and its leaders.
The annual Top 10 news selections from the two major CCP mouthpieces sparked criticism from netizens. Some pointed out that significant events like the Jiangxi Xinyu Yushui District fire causing 39 deaths and 9 injuries, the Meida Expressway collapse with 48 deaths and 30 injuries, and the Zhuhai Sports Center car accident leading to 35 deaths and 43 injuries were not included in the official media’s Top 10 news. This led to suspicions of deliberately covering up public dissatisfaction and creating a false image of peace and prosperity.
Netizens commented, “Is this even considered news? It feels more like propaganda.” “The party has completely disconnected from the people, even the founding fathers would be disappointed.” “False! Empty! Sorry, there are no longer any spectators in the audience.” “Mostly self-praising, deceiving the world, and fooling the people.”
At the end of 2024, Voice of America interviewed ten Chinese observers who dissected mainland China’s 2024 from various dimensions including economic, political, social, and livelihood aspects.
Economist Xu Chenggang stated, “Crisis permeates all aspects of politics, economics, and society, bringing severe difficulties to the Chinese Communist Party one after another.”
Xu Chenggang pointed out that crises had erupted in many areas, especially in finance and fiscal matters, which the whole world had already witnessed. Unlike market economies, the CCP officials control and freeze markets administratively, causing financial and fiscal crises to worsen slowly and gradually. This worsening trend is undoubtedly ongoing. The impact of massive excess production capacity affects the international market and subsequently returns to affect Chinese society. Meanwhile, severe restrictions on freedom of speech and basic human rights by the authorities trigger numerous societal crises.
Chinese-American writer and Boston University professor Ha Jin described 2024 China as “collapsing.”
In his view, a few years ago, Xi Jinping and his team recklessly steered China into a dangerous zone, and now the ship is clearly in an iceberg zone. “The ship has been damaged everywhere, and a slight snap could sink the whole ship,” he said.
“If Xi Jinping isn’t replaced, the country is doomed. It will truly collapse, and it may unravel beyond control,” he added. “Ordinary people should prioritize their lives and livelihoods. Don’t trust state propaganda because much of it is lies.”
“Toronto Fanglian,” a current political blogger residing in Canada, stated, “If I had to summarize China in 2024 in one word, it would be ‘extreme.'”
He mentioned that in 2024, as China’s economy declined and social tensions escalated, there were increasing extremist behaviors seen among the populace. Victims now include not only students, civilians, and foreigners but also government officials.
Political scientist and senior researcher at Stanford University’s China Economic and Institutional Research Center, Wu Guoguang, used “decay and collapse” to describe China in 2024. He stated, “China’s economy is in decline, the government’s governance capacity is deteriorating, the Chinese people’s confidence in the future is diminishing, and societal order and morality are collapsing.”
“It’s not easy being a Chinese person,” he remarked. In his view, 2024 China lacked sunshine, new perspectives, and was shrouded in haze and darkness. If one word could describe it, it would be “decay and collapse.”
Wu Guoguang pointed out that the current chaos in China is a cumulative effect of Xi Jinping’s regime over the past few years. After the pandemic control measures ended, people hoped for an economic rebound and societal progress, but those expectations were not met. The authorities are not unwilling to improve the economy, but they prioritize retaining power firmly. The political structure and governance strategies are not tailored for the benefit of the people.
“I see no hope. That’s how I see China in 2024,” he concluded.
Janet Tian, a media professional from mainland China, expressed that in 2024, China was characterized by a macro environment, economic decline, a prevailing narrative of national security, diminishing birth confidence, and an uncertain road to the future. These seemed like unstoppable societal trends that individuals found difficult to alter, resembling a massive whirlpool that cannot be avoided.
A netizen using the handle “free…ha” stated, “Strive to live. Some things cannot be changed quickly, struggling only brings more pain. Live within your means and wait for the day of enlightenment.”