• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • ABOUT CHINA
    • NEWS
    • TESTIMONIES
    • OP-EDS
    • FEATURED
    • GLOSSARY
    • CHINA PERSECUTION MAP
  • FROM THE WORLD
    • NEWS GLOBAL
    • TESTIMONIES GLOBAL
    • OP-EDS GLOBAL
    • FEATURED GLOBAL
  • INTERVIEWS
  • DOCUMENTS AND TRANSLATIONS
    • DOCUMENTS
    • THE TAI JI MEN CASE
    • TRANSLATIONS
    • EVENTS
  • ABOUT
  • EDITORIAL BOARD
  • TOPICS

Bitter Winter

A magazine on religious liberty and human rights

three friends of winter
Home / China / News China

CCP Members, Officials Forced to Learn “Xi Thought” by Heart

10/19/2019Yang Xiangwen |

Party bureaucrats are demanded to always carry quotes by the president and study them; those who can’t recite them from memory may face punishment.

by Yang Xiangwen

China’s National legislature adopted amendments in March 2018, to enshrine into the Constitution President Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, launching the compulsory studying of president’s ideas to everyone, primarily members of the Chinese Communist Party and government officials.

Ever since then, a flood of materials and activities have been introduced to force people study “Xi Thought” – from the notorious “Xi Study Strong Nation” app to special TV programs, like the series “Bringing the Language of ‘Ping’ Closer to the People: the Dictionary of General Secretary Xi Jinping,” broadcasted in October 2018 on the China Central Television. 

And the arsenal of propaganda tools seems to be expanding. On June 9, the Outline for Learning Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, compiled by the Central Propaganda Department, was issued nationwide, expanding the scope of activities to promote “Xi Thought” to Party members and government officials.

I

A report about the requirement for each official at the Maoming Municipal Organization Establishment Administration Office of Guangdong Province to have a copy of and study the Outline for Learning Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
A report about the requirement for each official at the Maoming Municipal Organization Establishment Administration Office of Guangdong Province to have a copy of and study the Outline for Learning Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

The propaganda department of a municipality in Changzhi city in the northern province of Shanxi issued a notice in early July, demanding each health system official and worker under its jurisdiction to purchase a copy of the Outline to ensure full coverage of “Xi Thought” studies and training.

According to media reports from mainland China, the Organization Department of Ci County Committee, under the jurisdiction of Handan city in the northern province of Hebei, published the Pocketbook of Quotations from Ping’s Language Close to People in July and distributed copies to every CCP member and official in the county’s 280 villages. In less than a month, more than 20,000 copies of the pocketbook have been distributed.

Pocketbook of Quotations from Ping’s Language Close to People, published by the Organization Department of Ci County Committee.
Pocketbook of Quotations from Ping’s Language Close to People, published by the Organization Department of Ci County Committee.

The pocketbook contains a series of Xi Jinping’s speeches and mandatory “knowledge points,” themed “Don’t forget the original intention; keep the mission in mind.” The book also comes with a notebook, titled Party Members and Officials’ Pocket Log. All members of the Party and government officials are demanded to memorize the contents of “Xi’s Quotes” and carry the log with them at all times, making notes.

“Carry the log at all times, make notes when working, demonstrate the enthusiasm for work, and compete for better performance with each other” – the slogan written on the back cover of Party Members and Officials’ Pocket Log.
“Carry the log at all times, make notes when working, demonstrate the enthusiasm for work, and compete for better performance with each other” – the slogan written on the back cover of Party Members and Officials’ Pocket Log.

As reported by the local media, the pocketbook features a compact design, is easy to carry, and allows Party members and officials to use their “fragmented time” to read and study anytime and anywhere, significantly increasing Party members and officials’ interest and efficiency for study. However, it seems that such extolling reports do not truly represent the voices of those who are forced to study “Xi Thought.”

“Ever since Xi Jinping took office, he has been developing his personality cult,” a Party member who asked to remain anonymous said. “He is at the core of everything. By making Party members and officials study the pocketbook, Xi is retreading the path of Mao. First, we’re indoctrinated; then, we have to be assessed. Anyone who dares to argue with the CCP will be punished.”

Another Party member added that the law in China only serves the Party, and Xi Jinping is imposing his views on the people. “You must study and memorize his quotes, no matter how busy you are. Otherwise, if an inspection team determines that someone doesn’t study the book, they will be disciplined and forced to leave their jobs without pay.”

The design of the leader’s shining portrait on the red cover of Pocketbook of Quotations from Ping’s Language Close to People is hugely similar to the one on the cover of Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong.

More than half a century ago, Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong, was all the rage. Initially only used within the Party for learning and propaganda purposes, by the beginning of 1969, a copy of the book was owned practically by every person in China. Mao Zedong’s personality cult, as espoused by the CCP, began spreading throughout the country.

The style of the cover of Pocketbook of Quotations from Ping’s Language Close to People is very similar to the Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong. (the photo on the left: ROBERT HUFFSTUTTER - CC BY 2.0).
The style of the cover of Pocketbook of Quotations from Ping’s Language Close to People is very similar to the Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong. (Credits for the photo on the left – CC BY 2.0).

According to an August 15 report by Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA), the General Offices of the CCP Central Committee and the State Council issued a document, stating that “The atmosphere of the entire Party and society caring about and supporting the establishment of ideological and political theory courses isn’t strong enough” and must be strengthened so that “Xi Thought” can enter the minds of children.

A report on how the Food and Material Reserve Bureau of Nanning city in Guangxi Province is organizing Party members to study the Outline for Learning Xi Jinping Thought.
A report on how the Food and Material Reserve Bureau of Nanning city in Guangxi Province is organizing Party members to study the Outline for Learning Xi Jinping Thought.

Tagged With: Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping

bw-profile
Yang Xiangwen

Uses a pseudonym for security reasons.

Related articles

  • Chinese Told to Spy Each Other on the Web

    Chinese Told to Spy Each Other on the Web

  • China, Beware of the New Anti-Espionage Law

    China, Beware of the New Anti-Espionage Law

  • Dong Yuyu: Well-Known Journalist and Academic Indicted for “Espionage”

    Dong Yuyu: Well-Known Journalist and Academic Indicted for “Espionage”

  • CCP-Controlled Three-Self Church Mobilized to Implement the Two Sessions Directives

    CCP-Controlled Three-Self Church Mobilized to Implement the Two Sessions Directives

Keep Reading

  • China’s New Crackdown Targets “Self-Media”
    China’s New Crackdown Targets “Self-Media”

    As recent scandals and the COVID protests demonstrated, allowing non-Party-approved news to be posted on social media is something the regime cannot tolerate. 

  • The “Buddhist and Taoist Clergy Database,” Another CCP Imposture
    The “Buddhist and Taoist Clergy Database,” Another CCP Imposture

    Advertised as a tool against fraudulent “false monks,” it will in fact also help cracking down on Buddhist monks and Taoist priests not controlled by the CCP.

  • How China’s “Techno-Mediatic Socialism” Controls Global Information
    How China’s “Techno-Mediatic Socialism” Controls Global Information

    The level of the CCP’s media control throughout the world is already immense. It may become worse, says Joshua Kurlantzick in a new book.

  • Coming Soon in China: New (and Worse) “Administrative Measures for Religious Activity Venues”
    Coming Soon in China: New (and Worse) “Administrative Measures for Religious Activity Venues”

    The new measures will replace those of 2005, and introduce stricter provisions making CCP propaganda at all places of worship mandatory.

Primary Sidebar

Support Bitter Winter

Learn More

Follow us

Newsletter

Most Read

  • Sinicization of Christianity Comes to Hong Kong by Gladys Kwok
  • The Last Words of a Uyghur Father: A Son’s Memory by Abdurehim Gheni Uyghur
  • China: Theological Seminaries Inspected to Check How “Sinicized” They Are by Zhang Chunhua
  • Occupied Ukraine: Anti-Cult “Experts” Target Moscow Patriarchate Dissident Priest by Massimo Introvigne
  • Xi Jinping: Beijing’ National Art Museum Is Not Socialist Enough by Hu Zimo
  • France, Sonia Backès Caught Red-Handed Again: A “Religious Profiling” of Muslim Students in Schools by Massimo Introvigne
  • Chinese Agents Tried to Bribe U.S. Tax Officer in Anti-Falun-Gong Plot by Massimo Introvigne

CHINA PERSECUTION MAP -SEARCH NEWS BY REGION

clickable geographical map of china, with regions

Footer

EDITORIAL BOARD

Editor-in-Chief

MASSIMO INTROVIGNE

Director-in-Charge

MARCO RESPINTI

ADDRESS

CESNUR

Via Confienza 19,

10121 Turin, Italy,

Phone: 39-011-541950

E-MAIL

We welcome submission of unpublished contributions, news, and photographs. Each submission implies the authorization for us to edit and publish texts and photographs. We reserve the right to decide which submissions are suitable for publication. Please, write to INFO@BITTERWINTER.ORG Thank you.

Newsletter

LINKS

orlir-logo hrwf-logo cesnur-logo

Copyright © 2023 · Bitter Winter · PRIVACY POLICY· COOKIE POLICY