Hu Xijin calls for tolerance and freedom under China's constitution

Former Editor of Global Times argues that greater social ease and openness can—and should—grow in tandem with China’s rising confidence.

Hu Xijin is a former editor-in-chief of the Global Times, a Chinese newspaper under the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the People’s Daily. He writes and posts videos regularly on X, Weibo (the Chinese equivalent of X), and his personal WeChat blog.

The article was published on Hu’s personal WeChat blog on 10 October. All bold texts are Hu’s.

我们宪法秩序下的宽松和自由，如何不断推进？

How to continuously advance tolerance and freedom under the constitutional order

Between China and the United States, the present moment is arguably one in which China is at its most confident, while the United States is at its least. The Tiananmen Victory Day parade has crushed American military arrogance; in technological competition, the U.S. chip blockade, once seen as a trump card, is gradually being overturned, with China taking the lead across a range of high-tech industries; in trade, the U.S. has completely lost its deterrence over China, and Washington is now eager to reach agreements.

This is an unprecedented landscape: the United States’ ability to suppress China in military, technological, and trade domains has been overturned. China’s independence and self-reliance are no longer a tragic narrative; at this historic moment, it has attained a strategic calm grounded in strength. From this point forward, imperialism will no longer be able to invade China, and the era in which the country could be blockaded, weakened, and forced into hardship is over. The People’s Republic of China’s journey from poverty to prosperity stands as an extraordinary achievement in both Chinese history and the history of humankind.

Today’s China is not without its problems, but the mindset for identifying and solving them now differs markedly from periods when the strategic environment was more urgent. Because the country is more confident than ever, I believe Chinese society will become more willing to identify problems proactively; the sensitivity around discussing them will gradually diminish; and there will be greater tolerance for external criticism. These are changes bound to accompany strategic confidence, and I believe this process will gradually unfold in Chinese society.

For example, as I often say, Chinese society should continuously explore ways to expand tolerance and freedom under the constitutional order led by the Communist Party of China (CPC). In my view, this is an inevitable dimension of comprehensive social development unlocked by growing confidence. Moreover, as China continues to make progress on this front, it will, in the eyes of the world, become the most perfect major power.

It is worth noting that the West has long touted its “freedom.” If China, drawing on growing hard power and rising confidence, also advances tolerance and freedom under its constitutional order, that would puncture the remaining sense of Western arrogance, complete the core elements of China’s soft power, and in turn foster a new level of societal confidence. From a higher platform of development, many long-standing problems that have plagued China would be resolved.

In fact, democracy and freedom are explicitly listed among the core socialist values [prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, the rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity and friendliness], serving as important goals in the construction of Chinese society. However, the real reason for the insufficient development of social tolerance and freedom lies in bureaucratism and the practice of formalities for formalities’ sake.

Chinese society inevitably faces various problems. Summarising lessons and closing loopholes is essential, but once bureaucratism takes hold, measures escalate. Signals for rectification are transmitted layer by layer and can become distorted by the time they reach the grassroots. To avoid perceived risk, the space for social tolerance is then compressed.

Formalities for formalities’ sake is even more illogical: it functions as a tactic to avoid thinking and shirk responsibility while creating for superiors the illusion of diligence. Once such a practice spreads, it inevitably constricts the space for tolerance and freedom at the grassroots.

Chinese society needs both development and security, and tolerance and freedom under the constitutional order are not at odds with national strategic goals. Endlessly ratcheting up already misaligned “security standards” and escalating tasks based on superior directives—merely for visible results—may look like the simplest implementation strategy. Yet overreach inevitably produces negative consequences, including a deterioration in public perception of the effort as a whole.

Therefore, I believe that the damage to tolerance and freedom under the constitutional order stems from bureaucratism and formalities for formalities’ sake, rather than from the overarching goals of China’s high-quality development.

For example, during the pandemic, special circumstances led to tighter grassroots controls. Now, conditions have changed, yet some localities retain a control-oriented mindset that persists, losing tolerance for the diverse irregularities and minor problems of grassroots life. This is a product of bureaucratism and formalities for formalities’ sake.

One common phenomenon today is that when something happens in a locality, officials are reluctant to hold press conferences, and media coverage is kept to the bare minimum. Once an issue draws public scrutiny online, the local authorities and public opinion agencies involved grow anxious and feel compelled to “handle it according to public opinion.” The underlying logic is: whatever the outcome, just make sure responsibility does not land here. That is bureaucratism, plain and simple.

Every locality will encounter minor problems; they are normal in any society and often resolve themselves or fade on their own. However, in some areas, great efforts are made to tackle minor issues, or even non-issues, mobilising the public and damaging the grassroots ecosystem, which causes discontent among the people. Such efforts yield little social benefit but serve neatly as “achievement reports” for local leaders, showcasing the overfulfillment of certain directives. In the process, ordinary people pay the price, and the space for tolerance and freedom at the grassroots is quietly eroded.

Overall, China’s development achievements are remarkable. The country is strong, and the public expresses high support for the constitutional order under CPC leadership. Yet this advantage has not been fully reflected in the social realm. Bureaucratism and formalities for formalities’ sake have, in effect, constrained society’s spiritual vitality. In addressing concrete issues, they fail to strike a pragmatic balance between risk mitigation and continued social progress. By elevating “problem avoidance” to a first principle, they impair the parallel development of tolerance and freedom under the constitutional order.

Curbing bureaucratism and formalities for formalities’ sake must go hand in hand with a clear grasp of the national strategic context and confidence in society’s unity and cohesion. China’s success is not a result of government intervention, but has come from unleashing social vitality through the socialist market economy. Chinese society also has a strong capacity to resolve, absorb, and endure problems organically. On this basis, advancing tolerance and freedom under the constitutional order rests on a very solid social foundation.

The core socialist values are shared goals. China’s development has already surpassed the limits of Western expectations for the country’s trajectory. The completeness and sustainability of this development will likewise exceed Western imagination, positioning China as one of the most indisputable models of human development.

Hu Xijin laments hate against America & Japan, praises hero who saved Japanese mother & child