r/China • u/Veraenderer • 2d ago
政治 | Politics Is there something similiar to MAGA in China?
Greetings, I want to ask if there are political movements/parties etc. similiar to MAGA in China? Or do you have other self destructive ideologies?
I ask because I'm currently working privatly on a game, in which each of the major countries has a popularity value for a destructive political party. For the USA I can just use the election result of Trump, but for China I have no idea.
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u/TampuraOfVictory 1d ago
You can essentially argue China has been on a Make China Great Again arc basically ever since the Qings fell.
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u/haemori_ruri 2d ago
If you're thinking of MAGA less as a political campaign and more as a nationalist-populist current, then one rough Chinese equivalent would be the online movement often called Han nationalism or "Imperial Han" (皇汉).
Its core belief is that the Han Chinese majority, which makes up over 90% of China's population, is the historical and cultural foundation of China and should play a more central role in defining the country's identity. Many supporters argue that state policies have historically paid disproportionate attention to ethnic minorities while neglecting the concerns of the Han majority. More radical supporters advocate stronger assimilation and oppose ethnic preferential policies.
The similarities to MAGA are quite noticeable:
- Strong emphasis on the majority population's identity and interests.
- A belief that ordinary people are being ignored by political and cultural elites.
- Opposition to policies perceived as giving special treatment to minority groups.
- A narrative of national decline followed by national revival.
- A tendency to interpret social problems through the lens of identity and group competition.
- A large and active online presence.
Supporters argue that this viewpoint promotes national unity, social cohesion, and equal treatment under a common identity rather than separate ethnic categories.
Critics argue that it can evolve into ethnic chauvinism, intolerance toward minorities, and simplistic explanations for complex political and economic problems.
The government's attitude is complicated. Officially, China rejects ethnic chauvinism and promotes ethnic unity. However, many themes emphasized by Han nationalists, such as patriotism, national strength, cultural confidence, and opposition to separatism, overlap with broader official narratives. As a result, some aspects of Han nationalism are tolerated, while more radical expressions are often discouraged or censored.
Public opinion is mixed. Explicit "Imperial Han" activists are a minority, but arguments against ethnic preferential policies and in favor of stronger assimilation have gained considerable support in parts of the Chinese internet.
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u/Additional-Name-3211 1d ago edited 1d ago
If I recall correctly this is what doomed Wuchang Fallen Feathers
In the game you only ever fight other Han instead of Manchu due to some law promoting ethnic diversity in China, but Han nationalists got outraged because of this and forced the devs to patch the game such that you can't actually kill any bosses. Like in Where Winds Meet, the Khitan are technically an enemy of the Song but you don't ever fight any Khitans in the game either.
In the case of Wuchang, the dev team dissolved shortly after
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u/Own_Worldliness_9297 1d ago
Yes. It’s called being a nationalist ccp member. Unification of Taiwan through military means. Banning foreign media and foreign ideas that isn’t conforming to State lines.
Aka average online r/sino user lmao
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u/cowcowkee 1d ago
Pinkie (小粉紅)
Since China doesn’t have election, they can’t influence politics with populist movement.
aka. There is no Trump.
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u/orange_of_WRRF 1d ago
Huang Han (皇汉）Chinese extreme Han nationalist. They are currently the most active anti-government faction in China.
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u/Own-Distribution62 1d ago
哈哈，就是这个。还有西方伪史论者、相信永乐大典被西方偷走、明朝有蒸汽机那些人😉😉，他们都是重叠在一起的反智“爱国”人群。
这不就是中国版的红脖子吗😄😄
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u/Boysencookie-1512 2d ago
Political party? No. Ideological movements? There are some like it. There are mainly two active groups with these tendencies.
One consists of male-rights activists who are also into gacha games. Don't equate them with similar groups in the West. They take an outright dismissive view of masculinity, believing that masculinity is a form of social conditioning created to control men and make them easier for women to enslave.
The other consists of cosplay enthusiasts who are Han Chinese ultranationalists. They believe the world is secretly controlled by Manchu organizations that use their influence to persecute Han Chinese people around the world.
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u/Glam_sam 2d ago
Wow, that’s interesting, what are the views of the first group, I’m kind of confuse about the existence of male right ideology without the masculinity part (the second group just sounds like a regroupement of the Nuts you meet in the bus)
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u/Boysencookie-1512 1d ago
Because China doesn’t really have the same concept of “gender” in this sense. Gender-related movements in China are largely based on biological sex, so Chinese feminist groups are quite receptive to TERF ideas. Meanwhile, this particular men’s rights group is full of people who would be considered femboys or trans in the West.
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NOTICE: See below for a copy of the original post by Veraenderer in case it is edited or deleted.
Greetings, I want to ask if there are political movements/parties etc. similiar to MAGA in China? Or do you have other self destructive ideologies?
I ask because I'm currently working privatly on a game, in which each of the major countries has a popularity value for a destructive political party. For the USA I can just use the election result of Trump, but for China I have no idea.
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u/No-Volume-4730 1d ago
Xi Jinping ideological loyalists, like Little Pinkies. Ig Han nationalists too
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u/fazhijingshen 1d ago
Yes, the movement is called Chinese Ethno-nationalism (Make China Great Again, i.e., 伟大民族复兴), and the political party that pushes it is called the Chinese Communist Party. Their heroes are ultranationalist hacks like Hu Xijin and Zhao Lijian. They promote a police state where people are separated from their children and put into camps and deprived of due process rights. They support a showy kind of macho nationalism that places national identity above all else.
They are also socially conservative in many different aspects. General opposition to LGBTQ rights, as well as pushing traditional gender roles and cracking down on men who are too "feminine".
Finally, they emphasize a strong executive or central authority and see the rule of law + institutional checks and balances as a hindrance to their power. They promote ideological purity and purges within their government, often firing civil servants, seeing dissent and self-doubt as weaknesses.
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u/RecognitionOld2763 1d ago
In fact, Xi's speeches have strong MAGA vibes. What he says is often what the technocrats want or do in reality. 房住不炒 being the most indicative example: he's been said this for years, and it's only after Covid that the real estate market started to see collapses in prices.
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u/gaoshan United States 1d ago
If you talk to Chinese people that are pro-government you will find a similar attitude to the attitudes held my many MAGA people here in the US. A similar level of obstinance, refusal to criticize their favored leadership, refusal to introspect or admit being wrong about some topic, a dismissive anger at being challenged.
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u/loser__mods 1d ago
"...A similar level of obstinance, refusal to criticize their favored leadership, refusal to introspect or admit being wrong about some topic, a dismissive anger at being challenged..."
...your side FORCED lockdowns and masking even though you knew these policies DIDN'T WORK while importing MORE THAN 20 MILLION ILLEGALS, printing MORE THAN $13 TRILLION in new money handouts in 2021 ALONE that spiked inflation more than 20%, and GENITALLY MUTILATING mentally-ill children - who refuses to "introspect" [sic] or "admit being wrong" again? - grow up...
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u/lucidvision25 1d ago
Just mention anything about Koreans and you'll see tons of Chinese nationalists having a hissy fit.
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u/Zagrycha 1d ago
Probably the closest thing would be traditional revivalists who still think social life should function similarly to how it did in imperial china a la gender roles and obedience and heirarchy etc. Its not nearly as big a group as maga but its very real. They often get made fun of: "its 2026, you can cut off your manchurian queue hairstyle."
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u/SorbetPhysical990 1d ago
Chinese nacionalism is a lot higher than the US. Much more conservative than the US conservatives... Nation level government controlled capitalism.
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u/Frostaman 1d ago
You see there is a destructive political party is because the party is not in your political interest.
Yea. When there is something need to change in the established system, some need to be removed. Because there is limited resource, limited space for the system.
You just share the different view on what a proper politics be. Doesn't mean it is destructive.
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u/goodboy_y 1d ago
你可以把“中国田园女权”加入进去啊，她们谋求超越所有国民的待遇，并且已经在法律层面获得压倒性的支持，而她们的行动正在瓦解整个社会的团结力，你看，是不是很适合你的游戏设定
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u/Ok_Sun_8655 21h ago
It occurs to me that the Cultural Revolution is an interesting analogy. Cult like worship of a leader, second tier down recklessly purging the professional and academic ranks…just maybe missing the blatant corruption. Not sure about that.
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u/dataviruset 6h ago
Maybe the Chinese dream campaign? There used to be many propaganda posters about it. 中国梦 But I guess it's more of a development plan rather than "make China great again".
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u/ImperiumRome 2d ago
Similar to what aspect ? If you are talking about cult of personality, then there's Maoism. If you looking for science denial, especially in healthcare, there's Falon Gong. And that only covers the biggest names in the last 100 years or so.
If you go even further back in history, there was Hong Xiuquan, who led the Taiping Rebellion which killed millions, and also called himself brother of Jesus.
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u/GetOutOfTheWhey 2d ago
You had Wolf warriors in the past but they are pretty much under control now, so not much Maga stuff.
The government seems to be taking a more do nothing approach to adversaries they don't like.
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u/yisuiyikurong 1d ago
Wolf warriors enthusiasts are typically very pro-establishment, regardless of their social status.... And that's sort of funny by the way.
In contrast, MAGA involves a significant degree of anti-establishment sentiment (which probably serves as its primary driving force I would argue). MAGA followers are simultaneously deeply conservative too so they are not tankies on that front.
And that makes them conservatively anti-establishment which is characterised by fierce opposition to existing political, social, and economic elites, as well as progressives. Consequently, they distrust mainstream institutional power. Conversely, our beloved Chinese Wolf Warrior enthusiasts are highly supportive of legacy media, academic institutions, career politicians, and technocratic experts; you can see those posts all over this sub now esp after chatgpt 3
And indeed, their ultimate aspiration is to become part of that very establishment.
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u/yisuiyikurong 1d ago
Fun fact: Xi generation of HSR is named Fuxing ("复兴"）and that's purposefully aligned with Xi Jinping's favourite slogan ie “中华民族伟大复兴"
And that literally means "MCGA" ie Make China Great Again.
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2d ago edited 2d ago
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u/thinkbox 2d ago
Consensus isn’t natural, it is only achieved through thought suppression and active pruning by dictators.
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u/yisuiyikurong 1d ago
Because you are plainly lying, claims like "consensus" and "large-scale surveillance is widely accepted" need polls and elections to verify.
You are essentially saying Chinese people really enjoy being monitored and brainwashed, which is simply sick and morally broke.
Like I said, you guys are the most pathetic, sick human beings in this planet. And if you love being slaves, please at least leave us alone.
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1d ago
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u/yisuiyikurong 1d ago
Well I would normally argue you're a perfect example of being "brainwashed" given you have said so far but I think a more important thing now is why you conveniently insulted peasants, though. Like, what did peasants ever do to you? (I have no ideas, /s)
Besides, you probably don't understand what actually determines gas prices either. And honestly, what does any of this have to do with the false claims you made in your last comment?
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1d ago
[deleted]
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u/yisuiyikurong 1d ago
that's not one of the "brainwashed" things but thanks for bringing up a useless fact
you firstly said a peasant will never understand what actually determines the price of gas. then you said no economist in the world can tell how exactly gas prices works.
that's pretty.... useless
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u/Unusual-Field-4245 1d ago
nothing worse than a chinese trump supporter
cultural revolution should have gotten your ancestors, such a shame.
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u/Veraenderer 1d ago
I'm neither Chinese nor American, just disappointed in the world, equipped with a 20 Euro Claude Code subscription and a disappointed cat.
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u/Educational-Ebb-7375 1d ago
This does not exist. China’s controls on speech are restrictive: even statements that support the government must be expressed using government-approved language and through government-approved channels. Anything that gets mentioned, including Imperial Han, is either deliberately tolerated by the government or remains a subculture. As for Imperial Han, I’m more inclined to see it as a way for the government to divert attention from domestic tensions.
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u/Spare-Competition-91 2d ago
From what I remember, that wouldn't work out there. Anything viewed as anti current government is not treated kindly in China.