During the National Day holiday, a “反共” (anti-communist) sticker appeared on a roadside utility pole in Cangzhou, Hebei Province, with a printed note stating “The CCP is a cult.” The related images quickly spread within messaging groups. Similar incidents have been reported in various regions across mainland China this year.
In recent months, anti-CCP slogans have been cropping up across China, posing a challenge for authorities. According to reports from overseas websites, on October 6th, a utility pole along a road in Cangzhou, Hebei Province was found with a sticker proclaiming “The CCP is a cult.” The sticker featured red characters printed vertically on a white background, accompanied by smaller red text on the right side stating, “Marxism worships Satanism, and Satan is a demon.” It was affixed to a gray-brown utility pole juxtaposed with a pink rental advertisement flyer above it, offering “Two Brick Houses for Rent.”
From the photos, it can be seen that the anti-CCP slogan was placed at eye level, making the red and white contrast stand out against the gray background.
Mr. Jin, a rights activist in Cangzhou, expressed during an interview that the public’s perception of the legitimacy of the CCP regime has shifted. In the past, people believed the CCP’s authority was unquestionable, but now there’s a significant change in mindset: “In recent years, ordinary people have increasingly questioned the legitimacy of the CCP regime. This is because of their corruption, land speculation, seizure of people’s homes, and oppression of the people. The public no longer believes they should be respected, but rather that they should step down.”
Mr. Jin mentioned that he often comes across anti-CCP slogans in remote locations on the streets or on mailboxes of residential buildings: “Just last week, I saw a ‘Overthrow the Communist Party’ slogan on my neighbor’s door. We have become accustomed to it, feeling that the CCP deserves it, but no one bothers to report it.”
In overseas social media messaging groups, there have been accounts from “witnesses” reporting similar notes and graffiti with messages such as “Reject Silence” and “Down with Dictatorship” found on the back of restroom partitions and fences near their homes, varying in font sizes.
An anonymous lawyer from Henan province noted that such expressions of dissent have become increasingly common amongst mainlanders this year. He mentioned encountering anti-government graffiti in alleyways, bus stops, school fences, and even on the back of restroom doors. The lawyer emphasized that authorities often ignore or erase the content. After taking photos, some individuals share them on overseas websites, causing a ripple effect of dissemination.
The lawyer mentioned that the current trend of decentralized dissemination of anti-government messages has caused headaches for the Chinese security system. He stated: “The populace’s decentralized mode of communication is indeed a challenge for the authorities. I’ve heard from them that sometimes they pretend not to see it or erase it themselves so as to avoid the effort of investigating. If they can’t find the person responsible, they end up being reprimanded by their superiors.”
It has been reported that this year, various regions in China have seen messages opposing the CCP conveyed through banners, projections, or street posters. These actions typically occur briefly at night or in densely populated areas before being swiftly removed and blocked by the authorities. However, related images have circulated widely on foreign social media platforms, sparking attention.
On April 15th, in the early hours, three vertical banners with red characters on a white background were simultaneously displayed on a pedestrian bridge near the Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station. The messages included sentiments such as “Without political reform, there is no national rejuvenation,” “The people do not need a party with unchecked power,” and “China does not need anyone dictating the direction; democracy is the way forward.”
On the evening of August 29th, extensive projection slogans appeared on the exterior walls of Xijie Street in Chongqing University Town, advocating for the overthrow of the CCP and promoting freedom over enslavement. The projection lasted about 50 minutes before being shut down by the police, and related videos quickly spread on social media platforms.
Additionally, leading up to the September military parade, spray-painted slogans like “China needs democracy and rule of law” and “Down with the dictator” appeared in restrooms in various locations in Beijing. Subsequent measures were taken in Dongcheng, Xicheng, Chaoyang, Haidian, and Fengtai districts, requiring restroom visitors to scan a QR code for entry registration and assigning “managers” to supervise the facilities. These accounts are sourced from social media and secondary reports, as independent verification by reporters was not feasible.
In September, in Liaoning Province in eastern China, banners opposing the CCP were hung on the walls of residential buildings, which were promptly removed after photos were uploaded. In locations such as Langfang and Shijiazhuang in Hebei, anti-CCP stickers were found on utility poles, restrooms, and fences with messages like “The CCP does not represent the Chinese people” and “The CCP is a cult.”
Analysts have pointed out that the continued spread of anti-CCP sentiments this year correlates closely with the slowing Chinese economy and decreasing household incomes. Scholar Rong Jilin (pseudonym) mentioned during an interview that societal discontent is gradually translating into actions: “A trend has clearly emerged. People may face consequences for criticizing online, but when they post things or spray paint in restrooms, on utility poles, and abandoned buildings, places not easily monitored, it becomes very difficult to investigate.”
Rong Jilin noted that the shift from online criticism to physical actions represents an escalation: “What actions they will take next can be speculated. The authorities are highly anxious about this.”