Jump to content

Chinese Left-wing Youth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Left-wing Youth[1][2][3][4], also known as Student Leftist[5], Leftist Students[6], Progressive Youth[7], or Zuoqing[8], is a youth community of the People's Republic of China best-known for their role in the 2018 Shenzhen Jasic worker rights protests.[9][10][11][12]

Overview

[edit]

China's left-wing youth are mainly young college students born in the 1990s, and they account a very small minority among Chinese college students.[5][9] These students are usually organized in the name of reading clubs and student societies, located in major universities, with different sizes and names. These student associations include Peking University Marxist Society,[13][14] Renmin University of China Xinguang Civilian Development Association,[9] Beijing Language and Culture University Xinxin Youth Association,[15][8] etc.

What these student organizations have in common is that they oppose the "Marxism" as defined by the Chinese communist party; instaed, they advocate "rebellious revolution" Marxism.[5] Since their members had supported the Shenzhen Jasic labor movement, these left-wing associations were purged by the Chinese communist authorities.[16][17][18][19]

Ideology

[edit]

China’s left-wing youth challenge the current ideology of the Chinese communist party, which points directly at the status and rights of the working class in China as a "socialist country". A member of the Peking University Marxist Society told The Washington Post that socialism with Chinese characteristics is fascism, not socialism.[20]

They look for cultural resources for resistance in Mao Zedong Thought, especially "Rebellion is justified."[21] Maoist leftists account for the vast majority of China’s left-wing youth, but unlike the older generation of Maoist leftists, many of them have progressive gender concepts and identify with feminism, gay rights, and queer people.[21] Apart from Maoists, left-wing youth also include Trotskyists and feminists.[22]

In an exclusive interview with the BBC News, two left-wing young people with the pseudonyms Xiao Ming and Zheng Hua said that their ideas come from Marxism, Leninism, and Mao Zedong Thought, but more importantly, they have witnessed the reality of Chinese society: there are countless elderly people in rural areas who are helpless, countless workers who have committed suicide, whose hard work has resulted in pneumoconiosis and violent beatings, and countless women have had their fingers crushed by illegally modified machines in factories.[21]

Activities

[edit]

On December 15, 2015, the Peking University Marxist Society released the "Peking University Logistics Workers Survey Report" on its WeChat official account, which pointed out that the living conditions of Peking University's logistics workers were poor. The report attracted widespread attention and media coverage.[23]

On November 15, 2017, Zhang Yunfan, the former president of the Peking University Marxist Society, who claimed to be a "Marxist" and a "Maoist leftist", was arrested by the police when he was holding a reading meeting at Guangzhou University of Technology. He was criminally detained and charged with "gathering a crowd to disrupt social order." He was placed under residential surveillance and then released on bail pending trial on December 29.[24][25]

On April 23, 2018, Yue Xin, the former president of the Peking University Marxist Society, published a signed article titled "An Open Letter to the Teachers and Students of Peking University and the School of Foreign Languages of Peking University", saying that after applying to Peking University to disclose the details of techer Shen Yang's sexual assault on female students, she had been under constant pressure from the university in recent days.[26][27][28]

From late July to late August 2018, left-wing students of more than 20 well-known universities from various places went to Shenzhen to participate in the Jasic Workers Movement.[6] On the evening of August 24, Xinhua News Agency published a report "Behind the Shenzhen Jasic Workers' Rights Protection Incident", claiming that the incident was "instigated by overseas non-governmental organizations," and suggesting that there were "fuelers" and overseas organizations that provided funds behind the incident.[29] In October, Qiu Shuixing, the former Party Secretary of the Beijing National Security Bureau, was transferred to the position of Secretary of the Party Committee of Peking University.[30]

On January 21, 2019, Chinese police collectively arrested seven students from Peking University and Renmin University of China who had participated in or supported the striking workers in Jasic Workers Movement.[31][32]

On August 26, 2021, Fang Ran, a graduate of the Department of Sociology of Tsinghua University, a founding member of the former Tsinghua University Political Economy and Modern Capitalism Research Association, and a doctoral student in the Department of Sociology of the University of Hong Kong, was taken away by officers of the National Security Bureau of Nanning, Guangxi. He was detained by the authorities under Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location on suspicion of subversion of state power.[33][34]

Figures

[edit]
  • Yue Xin: graduated from the School of Foreign Languages, Peking University, former president of Peking University Marxist Society. BBC News described Yue as one of China's most influential left-wing activists of 2018.[3] Yue disappeared shortly after the Jasic Workers Movement. She was last heard from in January 2019, when Guangdong police circulated a video of her confessing to various crimes and denouncing her own activism.[35][36]
  • Qiu Zhanxuan: former president of the Peking University Marxist Society and student of the Department of Sociology at Peking University.[37] He was detained on Mao Zedong’s birthday in December 2018.[38][39][40]
  • Zhang Yunfan: philosophy student of Peking University and former president of the Peking University Marxist Society. He was arrested by the police while holding a reading party on the campus of a university in Guangdong in 2017.[41]
  • Zhang Shengye: pharmacy student of Peking University who participated in the Jasic incident.[42]
  • Chen Kexin: student at Renmin University of China, participant in the Jasic Incident, and president of the Xinguang Civilian Development Association of Renmin University of China.[43]

Organizations

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

Slovenian radical left-wing philosopher Slavoj Žižek discussed Yue Xin’s disappearance in an article published in The Independent, arguing that it reflects the inherent contradictions in Chinese society, namely that the official state ideology of Marxism is being considered a dangerous form of regime subversion.[53]

In order to oppose China's suppression of left-wing students organizing pro-labor groups, more than 30 left-wing scholars including Noam Chomsky and John E. Roemer jointly called for a boycott of the World Marxist Congress hosted by China. Chomsky issued a statement saying that "left-wing scholars all around the world" should join the boycott of such conferences and activities; while Romer issued a statement saying that relevant actions exposed China’s political leadership as fake Marxists.[54]

Cornell University announced the suspension of academic cooperation with Renmin University of China, which punished students who supported labor rights in Shenzhen and suppressed speech and academic freedom. The director of international programs at the school of industrial and labor relations, said Renmin University does not allow discussion of labor issues, making it impossible for joint research between the two universities to proceed.[55]

Sociologist Pan believes that this left-wing youth movement is the true resurrection of the early radical left-wing tradition of the Chinese Communist Party in contemporary China; these left-wing youths are comparable to Mao Zedong, Deng Zhongxia, Li Lishan,et al. and will open a new chapter in China's social change.[56]

Regarding the suppression of left-wing youth in China, Wang Dan wrote that these students believe in Marxism that emphasizes the sanctity of labor and the equality of human beings; however, the Marxism believed by the CCP headed by Xi Jinping is a theory of state violence to maintain one-party dictatorship.[9]

Scholar Letian Lei wrote that the 2010s left-wing student activism and the persecutions it suffered demonstrate, on the one hand, the possibility of an authentic Chinese New Left, and one the other hand, its frangibility under the party-state dictatorship.[57]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 赫海威 (2019-01-02). "中国压制左派青年，北大学生举行抗议活动". The New York Times (in Chinese). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  2. ^ "12名佳士声援者失踪：左派青年受压". Radio Free Asia (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  3. ^ a b "高壓下崛起的中國左翼青年". BBC News 中文 (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  4. ^ ""左翼青年"的言论自由，要不要保护？". Financial Times中文网. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  5. ^ a b c 赵鼎新. "當前中國最大的潛在危險" (PDF). Twenty-First Century. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  6. ^ a b Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "北京高校左派学生高调声援深圳工人维权 | DW | 30.07.2018". Deutsche Welle (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  7. ^ "中国左翼青年被捕，让人想起李大钊……". Radio Free Asia (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  8. ^ a b 中央通訊社 (2019-01-08). "中國左青再被打壓 北京語言大學新新社遭註銷 | 兩岸". Central News Agency CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  9. ^ a b c d "北大、人大打压左派 因为马克思提倡暴力？". Radio Free Asia (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  10. ^ Xiong, Ben Westcott,Yong (2018-11-14). "Young Marxists are going missing in China after protesting for workers". CNN. Retrieved 2023-09-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Yang, Yuan (2019-02-14). "Inside China's crackdown on young Marxists". Financial Times. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  12. ^ Rudolph, Josh (2018-08-24). "Detained Activist Yue Xin on the Jasic Workers". China Digital Times (CDT). Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  13. ^ "被整肃的北京大学马会学生元旦发声". Voice of America (in Chinese). 2019-01-01. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  14. ^ Xiong, Steven Jiang,Yong (2018-11-15). "Communist Party cracks down on China's famous Peking University". CNN. Retrieved 2023-09-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "北语左翼学生社团被疑因参与工运遭校方注销". Voice of America (in Chinese). 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  16. ^ 吳梓楓 (2019-01-08). "內地大學嚴整左翼學會 北京語言大學註銷「新新青年」社團". HK01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  17. ^ "Fears for young Marxist activist missing after police raid in China". South China Morning Post. 2018-10-11. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  18. ^ "Officials in Beijing worry about Marx-loving students". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  19. ^ "日本戦略研究フォーラム(JFSS)". www.jfss.gr.jp. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  20. ^ Shih, Gerry (2019-05-25). "'If I disappear': Chinese students make farewell messages amid crackdowns over labor activism". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  21. ^ a b c "中國左翼青年問答錄：有關「毛左」 、工人維權和共產實驗的對話". yahoo-news.com.hk. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  22. ^ "陳純：左翼青年與「反國家主義聯盟」". Initium Media (in Traditional Chinese). 2018-08-13. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  23. ^ "北大学生调研学校后勤用工乱象--教育--人民网". 人民网. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  24. ^ "高压下崛起的中国左翼青年". BBC News 中文 (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  25. ^ "張雲帆辦讀書會被抓改監居 左派人士聯署信促放人". Radio Free Asia (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  26. ^ Liberty Times (2018-04-24). "北大女生要求公佈狼師性侵案竟被打壓 校園出現大字報聲援 - 國際 - 自由時報電子報". news.ltn.com.tw (in Chinese). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  27. ^ Hernández, Javier C.; Zhao, Iris (24 April 2018). "Students Defiant as Chinese University Warns #MeToo Activist". The New York Times.
  28. ^ Zhou, Weile. "#MeToo movement in China: Powerful yet fragile". www.aljazeera.com.
  29. ^ "深圳佳士工人维权发酵：多名声援团成员失联". BBC News 中文 (in Simplified Chinese). 2018-08-25. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  30. ^ Yang, Yuan (2018-11-27). "Noam Chomsky joins academics boycotting China Marxism conferences". Financial Times. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  31. ^ "多位北京高校马会成员遭集体抓捕". Radio Free Asia (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  32. ^ "Concerns Grow For Disappeared Chinese Rights Activists At Christmas". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  33. ^ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "关注劳工议题惹祸？ 港大博士生遭控「颠覆国家政权罪」 | DW | 01.09.2021". Deutsche Welle (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  34. ^ "研究大陆劳工问题 香港学生传被控"煽颠"". Radio Free Asia (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  35. ^ "佳士工人聲援團：岳昕等4成員被迫拍認罪影片". www.cna.com.tw (in Chinese). 21 January 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  36. ^ Shepherd, Christian (21 January 2019). "At a top Chinese university, activist 'confessions' strike fear into students". Reuters. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  37. ^ "China Arrests Marxist Student Leader for Celebrating Mao's Birthday". VOA. 2018-12-26. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  38. ^ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "北大左派学生社团领袖：遭警方折磨五天 | DW | 06.05.2019". Deutsche Welle (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  39. ^ "Leading Chinese Marxist student taken away by police on Mao's birthday". Reuters. 2018-12-26. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  40. ^ Westcott, Yong Xiong,Ben (2018-12-27). "Marxist student snatched on way to Mao Zedong celebration in China". CNN. Retrieved 2023-09-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  41. ^ "左派张云帆被捕遭秘密关押 学界联署要求放人". Radio France Internationale (in Simplified Chinese). 2017-12-27. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  42. ^ 赫海威 (2018-10-31). "当爱党的青年走上街头". The New York Times中文网 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  43. ^ Chan, Jenny. "A Precarious Worker-Student Alliance in Xi's China". China Review. 20 (1). ISSN 1680-2012.
  44. ^ "Peking University Threatens to close down Marxism society". Financial Times. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  45. ^ Xiao, Eva; Yiu, Pak (23 November 2018). "Too Marxist for China? Radical students rattle Communist leaders". Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  46. ^ "Chinese campus crackdown on young Marxist activists expands in major cities". South China Morning Post. 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  47. ^ Chan, Jenny (2020). "A Precarious Worker-Student Alliance in Xi's China". China Review. 20 (1): 165–190. ISSN 1680-2012. JSTOR 26893789. Archived from the original on 2022-05-15. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  48. ^ 海彦 (2019-01-08). "北语左翼学生社团被疑因参与工运遭校方注销". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 2019-01-11.
  49. ^ 杨升儒/张淑伶 (2019-01-08). "中国左青再被打压北京语言大学新新社遭注销". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 2019-01-11.
  50. ^ 吴梓枫 (2019-01-08). "内地大学严整左翼学会北京语言大学注销「新新青年」社团". HK01. Archived from the original on 2019-01-11.
  51. ^ "Two Chinese trade union officials arrested after helping workers: source". Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  52. ^ Hernández, Javier C. (11 November 2018). "Young Activists Go Missing in China, Raising Fears of Crackdown". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  53. ^ "'The mysterious case of disappearing Chinese Marxists shows what happens when state ideology goes badly wrong'". The Independent. 2018-11-29. Archived from the original on 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  54. ^ 杨缘 (2018-11-28). "乔姆斯基等学者呼吁抵制中国的马克思主义大会". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 2018-11-28. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  55. ^ 海彦. "美康奈尔大学批中国人大打压学术自由并中断交流合作项目". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 2018-10-28. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  56. ^ 潘毅 (2018-09-11). "佳士工潮：中国左翼传统的复活". The New York Times中文网 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  57. ^ Lei, Letian (2024-07-11). "The mirage of the alleged Chinese new left". Journal of Political Ideologies: 1–22. doi:10.1080/13569317.2024.2370972. ISSN 1356-9317.
Retrieved from "http://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=Chinese_Left-wing_Youth&oldid=1259752358"