Too Simple, Sometimes Naive

Beijing parades tanks, and narratives

Aware soldiers marching through Tiananmen Square might throw bad optics, the Party explains there's nothing to worry about. Is there?

Sep 3 • 

Whipling

33

6

August 2025

How China uses "media studios" to hide in plain sight.

At 2:30pm on a recent Thursday, on the 43rd floor of the headquarters of the Shanghai United Media Group, some of China’s propagandists gathered to slap…

Aug 31 • 

Whipling

11

4

How Chinese state media are quietly targeting "elites" via Substack

Journalists say they are writing "independent" newsletters. Their employers say otherwise.

Aug 7 • 

Whipling

34

3

July 2025

What is President Xi's legacy..?

So far, his tenure has been one of borrowed wins, sputtering projects, and debt. A lot of debt.

Jul 23 • 

Whipling

51

17

Where did all the laowai go?

China has loudly been telling the world its tourist industry is booming. Videos show legions of happy tourists. Yet numbers tell a different story...

Jul 6 • 

Whipling

39

May 2025

China is winning the media war

Thanks to censorship, a new media direction, and Western self-sabotage, today the stories you hear from China.. are mostly just those the Party wants…

May 29 • 

Whipling

65

11

China's army launches media hiring spree

The PLA is boosting its news department: the latest step in readying for a Taiwan invasion? Also, how Trump's tariff war may actually be helping…

May 8 • 

Whipling

13

1

March 2025

After two hours talking to me, China's Deepseek had sold out its Government and was keen to move abroad

The AI app is actually bizarrely honest and critical about the Party. You just have to ask the right questions.

Mar 22 • 

Whipling

95

22

Two Sessions 2025 — what did we learn?

As China's vapid political circus comes to town, state media hurry to say a lot... about very little.

Mar 10 • 

Whipling

20

February 2025

China's new PR strategy: positivity and confidence

Wolf Warriorism proved a disaster last time. So for Trump 2.0, China's leadership is trying the reverse tactic. Early signs show it seems to be working.

Feb 24 • 

Whipling

18

3

China revels in abolishment of USAID

While official reaction was muted, a few state media couldn't resist gloating. Unfortunately, nearly everything they said could have been about…

Feb 8 • 

Whipling

21

3

January 2025

How "Red" is Little Red Book?

TikTokers fled to China's fluffy, politics-free answer to "Instagram". Yet behind the scenes, Xiaohongshu is being increasingly coopted by the CPC.

Jan 20 • 

Whipling

22

2