Recently, China’s economy has been sluggish, with low market confidence and weak consumption. The former chief editor of the Chinese Communist Party’s official media outlet, Global Times, Hu Xijin, sparked controversy with a post stating that “sexual recession is one of the important reasons for weak consumption,” and urging not to take the standards of “yellow” and “pornography” too widely. After the post stirred up a heated debate, Hu Xijin deleted it.
On May 26, Hu Xijin took to Weibo to emphasize that the issue of “sexual recession” is a significant matter that “deserves high attention and in-depth research.”
According to Hu Xijin, based on his intuition, sexual recession is one of the important reasons for weak consumption, and it should not be shied away from acknowledging this fact. He expressed, “If there is a sexual recession, people’s interest and motivation in consumption will significantly decrease.”
Hu Xijin pointed out that if young people experience a sexual recession, it will inevitably lead to low desires. “Men would prefer staying at home after work, while women may lose interest even in buying pretty clothes. It must be acknowledged that sex is an important medium for consumption.”
“Let’s not be too harsh on the issue of sex and oppose the old belief of ‘evil desires lead the way.’ The standards of ‘yellow’ and ‘pornography’ should not be too broad to avoid harming the environmental factors that sex itself requires. In short, we need to consider this issue seriously in conjunction with human nature, consumption, and governance.”
Hu Xijin’s post immediately faced criticism from netizens.
Book blogger and Weibo influencer, “BuShu,” questioned, “Hu Xijin’s article on sexual recession and consumption has been deleted within less than six hours of its publication. Hu Xijin, what are you afraid of?”
The 2002 CCTV-10 Hope English Challenge Championship winner and Weibo influencer, “KrisFish,” said, “Hu Xijin: defending yellow.”
Automobile blogger, “Lao Li Loves Eating Pork Belly,” mocked, “Case solved! The reason many people are not getting rich is found!”
The headline article author and Weibo influencer, “Xuji Observation,” expressed, “I don’t understand, I’ve read it several times and still don’t understand what it is trying to convey.” Netizens commented, “It’s about legalizing the porn industry.” “Hu Xijin is talking nonsense seriously.” “They just want to legalize pornography, not even fearing the consequences.”
Self-media outlet “WY Economy 1” refuted, “Old Hu has once again made an annual perplexing statement!” “Reality brutally confronts us — people are struggling with mortgages and car loans, wages unable to keep up with inflation, even bubble tea becoming a luxury. Who still has the leisure to engage in ‘sexual consumption’?” “As a ‘top stream’ in the public opinion arena, instead of seriously researching issues like employment and income distribution, focusing on human nature topics to gain attention… What we, the common people, need are not comic storytellers but insightful perspectives that hit the mark!”