China's Patriotism Push: A Deep Dive into Xi Jinping's Nationalist Education Agenda

On a crisp December day, junior high school students in Fuzhou, southeast China, gathered at a country park to delve into the ideologies of Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Unfurling a vibrant red banner proclaiming their outing as a "walking classroom of politics and ideology," they retraced the steps Xi took during his 2021 visit to the neighborhood, seeking enlightenment, as reported by a state-affiliated local news outlet.

In the northern coastal city of Tianjin, another group of young minds toured a fort to reflect on "the tragic history of Chinese people's resistance to foreign aggression." These excursions are part of a broader surge in nationalist education in China, recently solidified into a comprehensive new law that took effect earlier this week.

The "Patriotic Education Law," designed to "enhance national unity," mandates the incorporation of love for the country and the ruling Chinese Communist Party into every aspect of work and study, spanning from the youngest children to professionals in various sectors.

This initiative aims to assist China in "unifying thoughts" and rallying the strength of its people for the grand task of building a robust nation and achieving national rejuvenation, as explained by a Chinese propaganda official in a news briefing last month.

While the promotion of love for the country and the Communist Party is not new in China, the recent legislation underscores President Xi's ongoing efforts to embed the party's influence in all facets of public and private life. This comes in the wake of stringent COVID-19 controls, which concluded in late 2022 following unprecedented protests by young people across the country against Xi's government and its policies.

As the economy faces a downturn and youth unemployment reaches record highs, the potential for discontent rises. The law stipulates that professionals, ranging from scientists to athletes, should embody "patriotic feelings and behavior that bring glory to the country."

Local authorities are mandated to utilize cultural assets, such as museums and traditional Chinese festivals, to foster patriotic sentiments. Religious bodies are also directed to enhance the patriotic sentiment of their staff and followers, aligning with China's broader push to "sinicize" and tighten control over religion.

This legislation builds upon a 2016 directive from the Ministry of Education, aiming for across-the-board patriotic education at every stage and aspect of schooling. Smartphone apps and quizzes on Xi's theories have been employed to propagate socialist thought, reaching millions of Communist Party members and state-owned enterprise employees.

The new law ensures that patriotic education becomes integral to school subjects and teaching materials at all grades and institutions. Parents are required to guide their children and encourage participation in patriotic activities. Alfred Wu, an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, suggests that this move is aimed at instilling a loyal mindset towards Xi from a young age.

Cultural establishments, including museums and libraries, are directed to become venues for patriotic education, with tourist destinations transformed into places that "inspire patriotism." Schools are mandated to organize trips to these sites, officially turning them into "walking classrooms of politics and ideology."

While China has existing legislation against unpatriotic behavior, the new law hints at potential penalties for acts not covered by existing statutes. It specifically targets behaviors advocating, glorifying, or denying acts of invasion, wars, and massacres, indicating a tightening grip on dissent in the country.