There is no doubt that Congress will approve this law at the end of the three-day session scheduled for this week. According to state media, the new model focuses on party ideology and precepts.
The rule will apply not only to mainland China, but also to overseas Chinese, Hong Kong, and residents of the “rebellious” Taiwan. Specific clauses are also provided for religious figures, worshipers, and Internet service providers.
Chinese state media have hinted at the outline of the bill, revealing its contents in a sketchy manner. According to reports, the normative reference is “the thoughts of Xi Jinping,” and the law will insist on the principle of “the unification of love of country, love of the Party, and love of socialism.”
The bill prioritizes the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and emphasizes using its heritage for patriotic education. To this end, schools must integrate patriotic education, i.e., the ideology and political theories of the CCP, at all stages of the educational process.
The bill further establishes specific rituals such as raising the flag and singing the national anthem, to promote patriotic spirit. The weekly national flag-raising ceremony has become standard practice in Hong Kong schools since the enactment of the National Security Law.
In addition to the patriotic education of young people and students, the law also provides specific articles for citizens of Hong Kong and Taiwan and for overseas Chinese citizens, although Taipei is not under the authority of Beijing. Some analysts believe that China is preparing the legal ground for a later – and more than potential – war to be launched against the “rebel” island.
A specific section of the new law is also reserved for religious leaders and followers. The official media indicates that the objective is to maintain the unity of the nation and the cohesion between the different ethnic groups.
According to the bill, Internet service providers will have to disseminate information that enhances the patriotic spirit and develop new platforms, new technologies, and new products for online patriotic education.
Recently, China has seen a series of protests in various parts of the country, including in tightly controlled areas like Xinjiang and Tibet, against the “zero Covid” policy imposed by the rulers to contain the pandemic. Some protesters and students have openly challenged Supreme Leader Xi Jinping and the Communist Party’s authority, a rare occurrence since the bloody crackdown on the democracy movement in 1989.
Discontent is brewing over a sluggish economy and unprecedented youth unemployment. It seems that Beijing is unable to find an acceptable solution to a very complex situation. However, Xi Jinping himself launched a campaign in April asking CCP members to study and apply his thinking and dictates.
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the highest legislative body in the country, has been considering the Patriotic Education Bill since June 26, 2023. Beijing started this legislative process aimed at promoting patriotism among all citizens, including those in Hong Kong and Chinese who live overseas.