The Narrative War That Left China on the Defensive
There is an old rule of public life: never start an argument unless you are prepared to hear the answer. China appears to have forgotten this rule. What began as a casual social media observation soon evolved into something much larger — a narrative war that left Beijing unexpectedly on the defensive and exposed the risks of carrying state-crafted confidence into the unruly arena of global social media. The spark itself was hardly dramatic. Someone pointed out that China, like most ancient civilizations, had its own social hierarchy. There was an Emperor at the top, followed by scholars, farmers, craftsmen and merchants. Nothing scandalous. Nothing revolutionary. Certainly nothing that should have triggered an international shouting match. But nations, much like old aristocrats, tend to be sensitive about their reputation. Before long, voices defending China stepped in. The argument shifted from history to modernity. China was projected as the model state — more efficient, more advance...
