Recently, during a lecture, renowned American sinologist Perry Link stated that the Chinese Communist Party intentionally sets vague red lines in order to instill fear and self-censorship in people’s minds, creating an atmosphere akin to living under the shadow of a giant python and extending its influence globally. Experts believe that this will lead to personality splits from top to bottom, however, while mouths may be silenced under pressure, societal resistance is only a matter of time, both domestically and internationally.
Perry Link, a prominent sinologist and a Ph.D. in Chinese history from Harvard University, was invited to visit Taiwan. During a lecture at the Academia Sinica on Thursday, he analyzed the CCP’s manipulation of influence through self-censorship derived from fuzzy strategic tactics.
He elaborated that fear induces self-censorship, where the red lines of censorship are intentionally vague. For instance, being informed that one cannot go to China without any reasons provided, causing individuals to self-censor due to uncertainty about the consequences.
In response, Li Youtan, a professor at National Chengchi University’s Institute of National Development, analyzed that the CCP’s authoritarian rule has no boundaries, as any behavior may potentially conflict with the CCP’s ideals, and everything is subject to the CCP’s decision-making. This ambiguity instills fear as people are uncertain of crossing the red line.
Moreover, former dean of Taiwan’s National Defense University’s College of Political Warfare, Yu Zongji, analyzed that the CCP is adept at psychological warfare and cognitive warfare through various means, primarily using media, threats, and instilling fear to change the behavior and thoughts of target subjects.
He emphasized the CCP’s skill at manipulating behavior and cognitive changes under conditions of extreme fear and insecurity, leading individuals to seek a safe mentality to avoid the metaphorical python’s attack.
The case of Taiwanese activist Yang Zhiyuan, who was sentenced to 9 years in prison by the CCP for allegedly endangering national security when attending a Go competition in China, exemplifies the arbitrary punishments and lack of transparency in the CCP’s legal processes.
Perry Link likened the CCP’s censorship system to a python hanging from a chandelier, symbolizing the subtle influence that induces compliant adjustments based on fear. He expressed his uneasiness under this influence but noted that being blacklisted removed this discomfort, akin to a dead pig not fearing scalding water.
The lecture also touched on the concept of individuals negotiating with and resisting censorship, leading to a state of cognitive dissonance where individuals conform outwardly while experiencing inner conflict, a state which may become normalized over time.
Li Youtan and Perry Link highlighted the shift in the metaphorical python’s behavior post-2018, indicating a more overt display of control akin to a rattlesnake, symbolizing the CCP’s increased release of toxic measures to control individuals.
Perry Link emphasized that self-censorship can lead to a normalization of divided values and beliefs, resulting in a split between internal values and outward expressions, ultimately causing cognitive dissonance.
Li Youtan discussed the lasting consequences of the CCP’s authoritarian rule, leading to ideological and psychological fractures among the populace due to the prolonged pressure of living under CCP control.
He differentiated Mao Zedong’s era of brainwashing from Xi Jinping’s method of mouthwashing, where individuals are not mandated to believe but are restricted from vocal dissent, resulting in ideological and personality divides among the populace.
However, Perry Link warned of the concerning trend where young individuals, indoctrinated under the CCP’s rule, start treating CCP’s lies as absolute truths, leading to a dangerous reality of complete belief in authoritarian control.
Yu Zongji pointed out the CCP’s internal conflicts, where Xi Jinping’s external shows of strength are contradicted by internal economic decline, leading to the fracturing of decision-making processes and creating diplomatic dilemmas.
He further explained that the CCP’s internal dynamics reflect deep-seated insecurities, prompting erratic decision-making that undermine economic development but remain unquestioned, fostering internal turbulence and reinforcing control measures.
From a societal perspective, Yu Zongji highlighted how many individuals in China have been subdued to the point of self-censorship, unable to express genuine thoughts and resigned to a life of subjugation.
Yu Ying-shih, a well-known Chinese-American historian who openly criticized the CCP regime, chose not to identify as Chinese due to the CCP’s authoritarian grasp, predicting that living under CCP rule would eventually stifle voices of dissent.
Additionally, the CCP’s extreme censorship extends to international communications, where all overseas calls appear as scam calls on domestic phones, requiring application for access to overseas calls.
While the CCP instills fear and controls communication channels, Yu Zongji believes that if even the fundamental pillars of the CCP, such as the military, show cracks, the repressed anger among individuals will eventually erupt, leading to a potential uprising.
He expressed his belief that authoritarian regimes, including the CCP, will ultimately face internal dissent, as history has shown that oppressive rulers cannot maintain control indefinitely.
Overall, the awakening awareness of the CCP’s nature among the global populace signifies a shift towards resistance against the authoritarian control and manipulation tactics employed by the Chinese Communist Party.