China’s Political Discourse February 2023: A Balloon Comes to Symbolize High-Altitude Tensions; Chinese Modernization; TikTok

By China Media Project

This monthly report is prepared for Sinocism by the excellent China Media Project. You can read it in your web browser here if you prefer.

1. Introduction: A Balloon Comes to Symbolize High-Altitude Tensions; Chinese Modernization

2. Focus Topic: Chinese Modernization and American Failure

3. February Surprises: Kang Hui Economics (康辉经济学)

4. Such a Lack of Confidence (太不自信了)

5. The Hot and the Cold

6. The Centrality Index

7. Foreign Leaders

Introduction: A Balloon Comes to Symbolize High-Altitude Tensions; Chinese Modernization

A series of events from late January into February 2023 rapidly increased tensions in the US-China relationship, and these tensions came to define much of the official discourse inside China over several weeks. 

One of the first points of tension came as the US Treasury Department announced sanctions on January 25, 2023, targeting the Wagner Group, the Russian par…