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Social Stability

Population Decline: Chinese People “Mysteriously Disappearing”

The article highlights China’s ongoing population decline, reporting that official data show the country’s population fell by 3.39 million in 2025, with just 7.92 million births — the lowest since modern record-keeping and comparable to levels seen during the Qing dynasty. China has now experienced four consecutive years in which annual deaths exceeded births. The sharp decline in births is attributed to economic pressures, high living costs, expensive housing and education, workplace challenges, and insufficient social safety nets, all of which discourage young people from marrying or having children.

The commentary also examines the wider consequences of this demographic downturn, warning that the erosion of China’s “demographic dividend” could negatively impact economic growth, domestic consumption, the housing market, and public finances. It questions the accuracy of official population figures, citing alternative estimates suggesting China’s actual population may be well below the government’s reported 1.4489 billion — potentially under 1 billion — based on leaked data, cremation statistics, and independent demographic analyses. The article frames the population decline as part of a deeper crisis that could profoundly affect China’s long-term prospects.

Source: Epoch Times, January 21, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/1/20/n14680260.htm

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Chinese State Media Condemns U.S. Arrest of Venezuela’s Maduro, Allows Surge of Anti-U.S. Online Sentiment

After Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was reportedly captured by U.S. forces and transferred to the U.S. judicial system, Chinese state media moved quickly to denounce the action as “blatant hegemonic behavior.” On January 4, Xinhua published a sharply worded commentary that was widely republished by mainland Chinese media outlets. Notably, many of these platforms left their comment sections open, allowing an unusual surge of intense and openly hostile anti-U.S. sentiment to appear.

Observers note that Chinese authorities typically restrict or close comment sections when online discussions become excessively heated or deviate from the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) preferred narrative. The rare tolerance for high-intensity commentary in this case has prompted speculation that the response was guided within China’s propaganda system.

Analysts say Beijing often employs a dual-track approach on sensitive U.S.-related issues: state media establish the official political framing—casting events as examples of U.S. hegemony or foreign interference—while public comment sections are temporarily loosened to amplify nationalist and anti-U.S. emotions. Scholars caution that this does not indicate a genuine expansion of free expression but rather a controlled release of public sentiment, with comment threads frequently dominated by repetitive, slogan-like messages—possibly posted by the CCP controlled fifty-cents party members—intended to shape broader public opinion.

Source: Epoch Times, January 5, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/1/5/n14669445.htm

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Defiant Video Challenging the CCP Goes Viral, Sparks Widespread Online Support

A video of a man openly issuing a defiant “challenge” to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has recently gone viral, striking a strong chord with viewers. In the clip, he urges people to stop fearing power and oppression and to refuse silence in the face of injustice.

The video was reposted on X on January 2. In an impassioned address, the man declares: “They want you to be afraid—afraid to the point of shutting up, afraid to the point of forgetting. But this letter of challenge today makes one thing clear: we are no longer afraid! We will no longer accept any form of power or oppression!” He adds that such tactics are “nothing but a paper tiger” under public scrutiny, asserting that “the net of justice has already been cast” and that fear is the authorities’ “last weapon.”

His remarks quickly drew an outpouring of support from netizens across mainland China. Commenters praised his courage and called for unity, leaving messages such as: “A nationwide awakening—support the streamer,” “A retired veteran supports you,” and “When you encounter injustice, dare to stand up and say no—if you remain a bystander, you may be next.”

Source: NTDTV, January 3, 2026
https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2026/01/03/a104052775.html

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Report: Many Districts in Beijing Owe Civil Servant Salaries

According to overseas-based political commentator Yuan Hongbing, China’s economic slowdown has evolved into a fiscal crisis that is increasingly affecting government finances and employment. He said that in 2025, in Beijing, only Haidian District was able to pay civil servants their full annual salaries, while officials in other districts reportedly received only eight to nine months of wages due to budget shortfalls. This suggests serious fiscal strain even in China’s capital, with conditions likely more severe in other regions and economically weaker rural areas.

Yuan also cited official data indicating that the “gross employment rate” for university graduates in 2025 is only about 60 percent, a figure that includes “flexible” (non-stable) and temporary jobs. Based on these numbers, he estimated that nearly five million new graduates are unemployed this year, and when combined with jobless graduates from previous years, the total number of unemployed college graduates may have reached around 20 million, underscoring the mounting employment challenges facing China’s educated youth.

Source: NTDTV, December 23, 2025
https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2025/12/22/a104049049.html

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Chinese Media: The American “Kill Line” as Proof of the Superiority of China’s System

Chinese media outlets have recently focused on a concept dubbed the American “kill line” to argue that China’s political and economic system is superior. An article published by Guancha is a representative example.

Borrowed from video game terminology, the “kill line” originally refers to a threshold below which a character can be instantly eliminated. In social discourse, it is used to describe how many Americans live with extremely thin financial margins, such that a single shock—such as illness, job loss, or a missed rent or mortgage payment—can rapidly push them into severe hardship, including poverty or homelessness. Once rent or mortgage payments are missed, credit scores are damaged, making it difficult to obtain loans to buy a car or secure housing. Without transportation or stable shelter, finding or keeping a job becomes nearly impossible, creating a vicious cycle with no clear exit.

The article draws on an interview with Neil, a long-time North America resident and TikTok commentator, to illustrate the lack of economic resilience and upward mobility among large segments of the U.S. population. Neil argues that while earlier generations believed hard work could reliably lead to middle-class stability, many Americans today struggle just to cover basic expenses such as rent and debt payments. The piece contrasts the U.S. system with Canada’s more robust social safety nets and with China’s institutional support mechanisms, concluding that Americans who fall below the “kill line” have few reliable paths back to financial security.

Neil further contends that the United States has entered a phase of “late-stage capitalism.” In this stage, he argues, big data and artificial intelligence may be used to keep the bottom 80 percent of the population in a state of “being alive but continuously exploited”: conditions are kept just tolerable enough to survive, while people are tightly constrained, compelled to keep generating value that is steadily siphoned upward to those at the top.

Source: Guancha, December 29, 2025
https://www.guancha.cn/Neil/2025_12_29_801980.shtml

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Chinese Official Calls for Politically Reliable Buddhist Leadership

Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met with senior members of the Buddhist Association of China on December 28–29, urging the organization to cultivate a politically reliable pool of Buddhist leaders and talent. He emphasized that Buddhist leaders and believers should adhere to the guidance and direction of the Communist Party of China.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 11th National Congress of the Buddhist Association of China, which took place in Beijing. According to the People’s Daily, Wang stressed that the association must strengthen its ideological and political leadership, guiding Buddhist figures and followers to practice socialist core values and to establish what he described as “correct” views on the nation, history, ethnicity, culture, and religion.

Wang also called for continued efforts to advance the sinicization of Buddhism, stating that Buddhist doctrines, management systems, rituals, customs, and behavioral norms should reflect Chinese characteristics and align with contemporary social requirements. He underscored the importance of implementing comprehensive and strict religious governance, enhancing legal education, and ensuring that clergy comply with laws and regulations while maintaining appropriate religious practices.

Additionally, Wang highlighted the need to cultivate Buddhist personnel who are politically reliable, religiously knowledgeable, morally respected, and capable of assuming responsibilities when required. He specifically emphasized developing “dual-competency” individuals who are well versed in Buddhist teachings and deeply knowledgeable about traditional Chinese culture.

During the congress, the Buddhist Association of China reviewed the work report of its 10th Council, adopted revised association regulations and religious rules, and elected a new leadership team. The meeting marks another step in the Chinese government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen oversight of religious organizations and ensure their alignment with Communist Party priorities.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), December 30, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202512300169.aspx

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Shanghai’s Restrained Christmas Atmosphere Reflects Stricter Religious Control

Christmas Eve in Shanghai revealed a city navigating between commercial celebration and religious caution. While festive decorations adorned streets as marketing elements, religious observances faced increased scrutiny. As one of China’s most cosmopolitan cities and a popular destination for foreign tourists following expanded visa-free policies, Shanghai demonstrated relatively more openness toward Christmas compared to inland cities, yet the celebrations remained notably restrained.

At Xujiahui Cathedral, the main Catholic church in Shanghai’s diocese, authorities deployed additional police officers around churches to manage crowds during Christmas masses. Inside the cathedral, families attended services together, including young children, despite official regulations prohibiting minors under eighteen from participating in religious activities. This reflected citizens’ flexible approach to navigating religious restrictions.

Bishop Shen Bin of Shanghai, who also chairs China’s state-approved Catholic Bishops’ Conference, issued a Christmas pastoral letter emphasizing “strict religious governance” and “simplicity over extravagance.” The letter referenced a national religious initiative focusing on seven prohibitions regulating clergy behavior regarding clothing, food, housing, transportation, and social activities. This campaign, launched in October following criminal investigations into Shaolin Temple’s abbot, aims to implement comprehensive strict governance of religion and advance the “Sinicization” of religious practices.

Enforcement extended beyond churches. One resident reported being detained by police on Christmas Eve for dressing as Santa Claus and distributing apples to passersby, with officers deeming it “bizarre attire.” At the police station, numerous others in Santa costumes awaited processing.

The contrast between Shanghai and less developed regions was stark. Schools in Yunnan and Shanxi provinces issued notices discouraging Christmas celebrations, urging students and families to cultivate “correct worldviews” and “patriotic sentiments” rather than observing Western holidays. The geographic divide highlighted how religious and cultural policies intensify beyond China’s major metropolitan centers.

Sourced: Central News Agency (Taiwan), December 25, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202512250110.aspx

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

Chinese Police Begin Using AI-Powered Smart Glasses

A video circulating on Chinese social media shows police officers in Tianjin patrolling the streets while wearing AI-enabled smart glasses. The footage demonstrates that the devices can not only recognize people’s identities and vehicle information by connecting to police databases in real time, but also analyze facial expressions and raise alerts.

In one segment, the glasses display details such as green identification frames, scanning prompts, and progress bars. Another clip shows pedestrians at a subway station labeled with “abnormal” expressions, alongside their names and partial ID numbers.

An IT professional in Shenzhen told reporters that these devices are intended for street surveillance and data collection. He noted that experiments with similar technology began as early as 2018 in cities like Beijing and Xi’an, but deployment has accelerated significantly in recent years.

Source: Epoch Times, December 11, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/12/11/n14653185.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Government/Politics Social Stability