The controversial issue of power inheritance and social stratification created by the Chinese Communist Party system has sparked outrage once again. In a recent event related to the Communist Youth League in Shanghai, a female tax official introduced herself as a third-generation member of a tax family, stating that she aims to “pass it on,” triggering anger among netizens. Local authorities have responded vaguely to this matter, while officials in Zhejiang have classified such propaganda as “high-level black” and “low-level red.”
On April 30th, a video went viral on the Chinese internet featuring Pang Ruiqi, a Communist Youth League member of the First Tax Office in Qingpu District, Shanghai under the National Tax Administration. She claimed, “My grandfather and father are both part of the tax family,” stating that she grew up “surrounded by a strong tax atmosphere in the tax family compound,” and that she chose to “take over the baton from her father and grandfather,” aiming to “continue the inheritance of tax blue in our family,” among other statements.
The tax department has long been known as a lucrative sector within the Communist Party. The woman’s boast of being part of a three-generation tax family has sparked controversy. Chinese netizens have criticized the CCP’s “privileged hereditary system” and lamented the lack of prospects for the common people.
Several mainland media outlets, such as Xinjing Bao and Dawai News, subsequently reported on the incident. The reports confirmed the existence of a person named “Pang” in the local tax system. Local tax officials have stated that they have already reported the self-narrative video by “Pang” and claimed that they will definitely report it to their superiors.
The video was originally marked with the logo of the Communist Youth League, indicating its official connection, but when Chinese media reported on the incident, all references to the Communist Youth League were removed from the related videos.
In recent years, similar incidents have surfaced. For example, the Railway Ministry’s media outlet, “People’s Railway Net,” once published an article titled “A family of three generations producing 21 railway personnel.” In June 2022, Henan Daily released an article titled “The Inheritance and Guardianship of Three Generations of Tobacco People,” which netizens criticized for implications of nepotism and family corruption.
On April 3rd of this year, a young boy in mainland China drew attention with a video expressing his aspiration to become the Chairman of the Agricultural Development Bank of China when he grows up, inheriting his father’s position and wealth. On the 7th, reports confirmed that the boy’s father is indeed the Chairman of the Agricultural Development Bank in Guangde City, Anhui Province.
Some netizens have commented on the entrenched social stratification and rampant power abuse in Chinese society, likening certain job positions to AIDS, spreading through blood, mother-to-child transmission, and sexual contact.
It is worth noting that in September 2022, the Propaganda Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the CCP published an article stating that the official propaganda of “low-level red” and “high-level black” has six forms, including mindless flattery, excessive efforts, turning cleverness into foolishness, and the “soft knife” approach of giving praise explicitly while subtly mocking, as well as the insinuations and criticisms of the “cold arrow.” The article suggested that while “high-level black” involves malicious intentions and evil motives, “low-level red” might mostly be attributed to “careless mistakes” and “incompetence.”
The article listed out some examples, such as “poverty alleviation officials marrying female poverty-stricken households,” “couples reciting party regulations on their wedding night,” “officials studying party history under street lamps in broad daylight,” and “a 91-year-old grandmother dancing to a familiar red song after sitting in a wheelchair for three years.” The article also mentioned the 2022 Henan Daily piece on “The Inheritance and Guardianship of Three Generations of Tobacco People.”
Political commentator Li Lin commented to Epoch Times that the inherent corruption of the CCP system will inevitably lead to incidents dubbed as “low-level red” and “high-level black,” and as the regime declines, such events will increase, contributing to the awakening of the public.