It is unclear whether these campaigns were directed by authorities or entirely organic, spontaneous movements started by grassroots nationalism. What we do know is that social media platforms, from WeChat to Weibo and from Douban to Douyin and Kuaishou, doubled down on censorship while largely leaving the ultra-nationalistic users who instigated hatred and harassment alone.
The political environment in 2021 particularly emboldened the nationalistic discourse online: The Chinese Communist Party turned 100 in July, and China’s pandemic control has been translated into political influence. Looking abroad, the U.S. handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as domestic crises like the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 have created “an opportunity not necessarily to push for Chinese political norms, but to create acceptable spaces for PRC government viewpoints,” said Rui Zhong, a researcher at the Wilson Center.
