What is the reason for the sudden silence of Hu Xijin, a Chinese nationalist?


One of China's prominent nationalist voices on social media, Hu Xijin, known for his regular posts and videos on Sina Weibo, suddenly stopped updating his page in late July, leaving his 25 million followers puzzled. Speculation arose that he may have been censored by Chinese authorities due to a post praising a party leaders' meeting on economic strategy. In the post, he lauded the plan for suggesting a reduction in the status of state-owned companies, which drew criticism from hard-left factions and possibly irked party officials. The incident highlighted the challenges faced by even the government's supporters in explaining its decisions, particularly regarding the delicate balance between reviving the private sector and preserving state ownership. Speculation about Mr. Hu crossing a line grew after the People's Daily issued a commentary defending the party's commitment to the state sector, which did not explicitly name Mr. Hu but appeared to be a high-level response. However, some experts expressed skepticism about Mr. Hu's interpretation of the party's economic plan, suggesting that his political judgment may have been affected by his retirement from the role of editor in 2021. Despite attempts to reach Mr. Hu for comment, he did not respond, and reports emerged that he had been banned from posting online. In conclusion, Hu Xijin's sudden silence on social media has sparked speculation about censorship and raised questions about the challenges faced by even the government's supporters in interpreting and explaining its decisions. (Word count: 262)



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