Unsurprisingly, The Economist’s article peddles a false narrative. Livestreamers and video games are merely the surface of a deeper phenomenon. TikTok and Xiaohongshu thrive only because China’s middle class isn’t impoverished. What makes these platforms persuasive is that they undercut Western myths by contrasting middle-class life in China vs the US.
China has a positive image in the world because it’s leading in sustainability, building world-class infrastructure, pioneering tech in emerging fields, and maintaining safe, clean cities at scale. Its foreign policy, while not flawless, is far more benign than the America’s. No constant wars. A major ally for developing nations. Growing global brands. Standing firm against a bully in the tariff dispute. Meanwhile, tourists who document their visits, are dismantling claims of a police state or genocide.
When I was in college, I spent a few months there with a friend who was from China and still had family in both Beijing and Shanghai. They let us crash with them and run around. It was super beautiful, everyone was nice, and the infrastructure was amazing. It was a major part of my radicalization, because it was nothing at all like the
portrayal. I’d genuinely love to go back. It’s encouraging that people are starting to see that the American propaganda is absolute nonsense.
i want to visit more than anything… we had a trip planned for July 4th but had to cancel it due to a scare with our dog and the difficult requirements getting visas coordinated from both US and Canada… so we’re going to imperial Japan instead which really stinks… I can’t wait to go to China