China’s economy has suffered a significant decline, and under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), human disasters continue to occur, leading to a sense of despair among the Chinese people towards the CCP authorities. It has been metaphorically described that the CCP regime has entered into a “historical garbage time,” which has become a consensus in public opinion.
Many official media outlets and scholars suddenly launched a fierce rebuttal to this viewpoint just before the CCP’s Third Plenary Session, claiming that it is more dangerous than the concept of “lying flat.”
Former CCP officials have indicated that the attention the CCP paid to these comments is because they touch upon the core legitimacy of its regime, directly challenging the official narrative of success. Commentators have expressed that these views reflect a shift in public sentiment, both within and outside the system, as everyone waits quietly for what they believe to be the CCP’s final moments.
The term “garbage time” originally referred to sports matches where one side holds an insurmountable lead close to the end of the game, leading to apathy among players and spectators. It is described as a period of meaningless time left in the game.
In February of this year, Dr. Liu Junning, a former researcher at the Institute of Political Science of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, used the term “historical garbage time” to describe the CCP regime as being in a countdown phase for a change of government. He stated that during this period, no one can reverse the course of history, and all the people can do is try to endure this time, which is what is now popularly known as “lying flat.”
Following the widespread dissemination of the concept of “historical garbage time,” various incidents have exemplified its impact on Chinese society. In early July, reports emerged about a female employee of a Chinese company who, after experiencing a significant drop in property prices and a drastic pay cut, felt hopeless and attempted suicide. This prompted writings cautioning against managerial failures during “historical garbage time,” advising against investing during such periods, and recommending lying flat and watching from the sidelines as the wisest choice.
The discussion around “historical garbage time” quickly gained popularity, becoming a catchphrase. Prior to the CCP’s Third Plenary Session, the Party’s official media outlet, Beijing Daily, was the first to refute the concept, accusing those who promote it of making long, mournful sighs about the country’s development and casting doubt on everything about China today.
Subsequently, official CCP media outlets began to comprehensively refute the notion of “historical garbage time.”
This latest move by the CCP has once again heightened attention on the debate surrounding “historical garbage time.” Tang Jingyuan, a political commentator based in the United States, told The Epoch Times that the broad dissemination and acceptance of such views in society indicate that the Chinese people are eagerly looking forward to moving past this final phase of garbage time and ushering in a new era.
Drön Duwen, a former Executive Director of the Legal Advisory Office of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Government in exile, stated that the characterization of “historical garbage time” accurately reflects the current status of the CCP regime, which has indeed entered this period in history. He emphasized that the CCP is so concerned about these comments because they touch upon the core legitimacy of its regime, directly challenging the official narrative of triumph.
“While the authorities vehemently refute attempts to restore public confidence and maintain power stability, it exposes the internal inadequacies and fragility of the system in dealing with complex societal emotions,” Duwen said. “The key issue is that official CCP media has long been reduced to irrelevant garbage media, losing even the minimum level of credibility.”
Wang Wen, Executive Director of the Chongyang Financial Research Institute at Renmin University of China, claimed that the theory of “historical garbage time” completely negates the current development situation in China and is more dangerous than the concept of “lying flat.”
Duwen noted that not only have ordinary people “lied flat” but over the years, Xi Jinping has focused on consolidating personal power, causing officials to become indolent. At present, officials within the system have adopted a spectator mentality.
Having previously served as a legal advisor to Hu Chunhua, Duwen is well-versed in the current state of the CCP’s officialdom. He explained that “a polar vortex does not happen in a single day,” recalling the popular verse from the Yuan dynasty opera “The Peach Blossom Fan” since 2018: “He watches him build a vermilion tower, he watches him feast his guests, he watches him collapse.” “Currently, not only have the hearts of the people been lost, but also the hearts of the Party,” he added.
Chen Weijian, the current editor-in-chief of Beijing Spring magazine, previously wrote that the widespread acceptance of the concept of “historical garbage time” in Chinese society is equivalent to pronouncing a death sentence on the current CCP regime. He noted that angry citizens, who have lost all confidence in the CCP, are now willing to perish together with it, as the ancients said: “As the days pass, we both are lost!”
In early July, Hunan Province experienced consecutive heavy rains, causing numerous incidents such as the release of floodwaters from 87 reservoirs, a major breach in Dongting Lake, and reports of missing individuals in Pingjiang County.
The official CCP propaganda called for private donations to aid in disaster relief. Two Chinese companies each donated 5 million yuan in cash to Huarong County in Yueyang City, Hunan Province, which sparked public questioning.
In the comments section, citizens questioned why the government did not help disaster victims and why money was being donated to Africa instead of domestic relief efforts. Some expressed concerns that the donated funds would be squandered and wasted by officials, while others bluntly stated, “If donations are required for man-made disasters, is there still fairness and justice in this society?” A resident of Hunan said, “Do not donate money, wait for us to rebuild, and everyone is welcome to visit Pingjiang. That would be the greatest help for us.”
Tang Jingyuan noted that in the past, when disasters struck, people were generally proactive in donating money and goods. However, there has been a complete reversal in the public’s attitude toward disaster relief, indicating that public sentiment and confidence in the CCP have completely collapsed.
It is worth mentioning that three years ago, in mid-July 2021, Henan Province was hit by continuous heavy rains, resulting in severe damage in many areas. The struggling sportswear brand, Hongxing-Elk, donated 50 million yuan worth of materials, which garnered praise from the public and gained attention on social media.
Within a short span of three years, there has been a significant shift in Chinese society’s attitude towards disaster relief. Tang Jingyuan mentioned that this reversal in public sentiment towards disaster relief is compelling evidence of the people’s despair towards the authorities. The widespread circulation of the view on “historical garbage time” and the CCP’s rebuttal provides insight into how, following a change in public sentiment, Chinese society is calmly accepting that the CCP regime is on borrowed time, leading to the CCP’s sense of panic.
“Firstly, the viewpoint of ‘historical garbage time’ fundamentally denies all the efforts the CCP has made to save itself and maintain the party’s interests in the current context,” Tang Jingyuan said. “Secondly, the widespread acceptance of these views indicates that many people within and outside the system are quietly awaiting the CCP’s final moments.”
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