The Year of the Dog, which is just ending on China’s traditional lunar calendar, was a fairly miserable one for Chinese news consumers hoping to access uncensored information. President Xi Jinping and the ruling Communist Party moved aggressively to control reporting on threats to the economy, block or shut down popular social media applications, and reduce avenues for jumping the so-called Great Firewall’s censorship.
The Year of the Pig, which begins on Feb. 5, seems likely to bring more of the same, but it could also feature some significant pushback abroad as the world becomes more aware of Beijing’s propaganda-fueled efforts to influence foreign audiences. Below are five developments that are likely to shape Chinese information-control strategies in the coming year.
