The 3500-Year History of China, the CCP, and GETTR’s Stand for Freedom
In today’s world, the China governed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is a far cry from the vast tapestry of its historical legacy, which spans over three millennia.
Ancient China
The journey begins with Ancient China, heralded by the Shang Dynasty (circa 1600–1046 BC), the first to leave behind written records. This era saw the advent of bronze technology, a system of writing, and the establishment of a feudal hierarchy. Following the Shang, the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC) emerged, during which profound philosophies such as Confucianism and Taoism took root.
Imperial China
The epoch of Imperial China (221 BC – 1912 AD) commenced with Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor, and the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC). This period marked a united China and the construction of the Great Wall. The Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 AD) is often celebrated as a Golden Age, characterized by significant advancements in science and culture.
Following the Han’s decline, China fragmented during the Three Kingdoms (220–280 AD), succeeded by a patchwork of the Jin and Northern/Southern Dynasties (265–589 AD). The Sui Dynasty (581–618 AD) managed to reunite China, only to falter under the weight of forced labor and excessive taxation.
China entered another period of prosperity during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), noted for its flourishing trade and the revitalization of the Silk Road. The Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD) was another hub of innovation, credited with the development of gunpowder and printing, before succumbing to Mongol conquest.
The Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368 AD), established by Kublai Khan, marked the first time non-Han rulers governed China. It was during this period that Marco Polo famously visited the region. The Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 AD) restored Han rule, expanding the Great Wall and witnessing Zheng He’s exploratory voyages to Asia and Africa. Finally, the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912 AD) was the last of the imperial dynasties, which ended with the Xinhai Revolution in 1911 after losing Taiwan to Japan in 1895.
Modern China (1912 – Present)
The Republic of China (1912–1949), founded by Sun Yat-sen, was a tumultuous era marked by Japanese incursions (1931–1945) and civil strife. In 1949, Mao Zedong established the People’s Republic of China (PRC), ushering in a communist regime characterized by sweeping land reforms, industrialization, and a strict one-party rule.
The Great Leap Forward (1958–62) was a disastrous campaign leading to famine and the deaths of an estimated 45 million individuals. The Cultural Revolution (1966–76) wreaked havoc on intellectualism and cultural heritage, while the Reform Era (1978–present) initiated after Mao’s death propelled China towards massive economic growth, transforming it into a global manufacturing powerhouse.
As we entered the 21st century, Xi Jinping rose to power in 2012, and with him came an alarming increase in authoritarianism, marked by a pervasive surveillance state and a social credit system. China’s global ambitions have since expanded through initiatives like the Belt and Road and a significant military buildup.
The Rise of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP): Suppression, Infiltration, and the Battle for Free Speech
Founded in 1921, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seized control of the PRC in 1949 following its victory over the Kuomintang in the Chinese Civil War. Under Mao’s leadership, the CCP established a totalitarian regime, wielding Marxist-Leninist ideology as a tool to suppress dissent and consolidate power. Fast forward to Xi Jinping’s era, the CCP has evolved into a sophisticated authoritarian regime that maintains a political monopoly. While the party has driven rapid economic development and increased global reach, it has simultaneously curtailed individual freedoms, quashing free speech and silencing citizens through fear and restricted access to information. Its influence has even reached the shores of the U.S. and the U.K., infiltrating institutions and prompting resistance from platforms like GETTR, which stands in stark opposition to the CCP’s tactics.
Suppression of Free Speech and Control Through Fear
In China, the CCP has meticulously dismantled free speech as a means to retain its grip on power. The Great Firewall isolates citizens from the outside world, blocking access to platforms like Facebook and Twitter, and creating a controlled “intranet” that restricts global perspectives. Popular social media platforms like WeChat are under constant surveillance, where simple mentions of terms like “Xi Jinping” or “Tiananmen” can trigger censorship or monitoring. A 2017 BBC report highlighted how even light-hearted references to Xi, such as comparing him to Winnie the Pooh, were swiftly eradicated to prevent any form of ridicule.
The CCP’s propaganda machine, led by the Central Propaganda Department, ensures that all media aligns with party narratives, placing severe restrictions on journalists and mandating that outlets promote “moral values” and “spiritual civilization,” thereby stifling independent reporting.
Fear is the bedrock of the CCP’s control. The surveillance state, reinforced by facial recognition technology and a social credit system, monitors citizens’ behaviors, punishing dissent with job loss, incarceration, or social ostracism. Censorship documents have revealed that the CCP actively targets influential voices, quashing or co-opting “thought leaders” to thwart challenges to its authority. Notably, during the 2022 Shanghai COVID-19 lockdown, public discontent was so palpable that it spurred anger, yet the CCP’s rapid content purging and the dissemination of fabricated posts served to suppress dissent. By controlling information and instilling fear, the CCP effectively limits citizens’ ability to question the regime or access alternative viewpoints.
CCP Infiltration in the US and UK
The CCP’s reach extends far beyond its borders, strategically infiltrating institutions in the U.S. and U.K. to mold narratives and stifle criticism. In the U.S., Confucius Institutes, which once flourished on over 120 college campuses, were criticized for chilling academic freedom and disseminating CCP propaganda. Although their numbers have dwindled to about 14, these institutes still mandate research collaborations with Chinese universities connected to the military, facilitating intellectual property theft and suppressing free speech on sensitive issues like Tibet or the Dalai Lama. The United Front Work Department, dubbed a “magic weapon” by Xi Jinping, co-opts diaspora communities, businesses, and local governments to propagate pro-Beijing narratives. A glaring example of this was the pressure placed on the Houston Rockets’ general manager to retract his support for the Hong Kong protests, illustrating the CCP’s influence over American institutions.
In the U.K., the CCP has similarly infiltrated academic and cultural domains. Chinese Students and Scholars Associations actively monitor Chinese students, discouraging any dissent against the regime, while universities with financial ties to Chinese entities face pressure to self-censor. The CCP’s media influence is palpable, with state-controlled outlets like CGTN disseminating propaganda and Chinese tech firms like Huawei, closely linked to the CCP, striving for dominance in 5G infrastructure, raising pressing concerns about data security. A 2024 U.S. House Committee hearing underscored the CCP’s “political warfare,” highlighting its efforts to manipulate financial markets, agriculture, and technology sectors in both nations, all while exploiting democratic freedoms to undermine them.
GETTR’s Opposition and Understanding of the CCP
Launched in 2021, GETTR has carved out a niche as a fierce opponent of the CCP, championing free speech and resisting censorship. Unlike mainstream platforms such as TikTok, which is owned by ByteDance and susceptible to CCP manipulation, GETTR firmly rejects authoritarian control. The platform has accused the CCP of leveraging apps like TikTok to harvest user data and disseminate propaganda, a concern echoed by a 2023 Rutgers University study that found TikTok significantly underrepresents content critical of the CCP. GETTR’s commitment to facilitating uncensored discourse positions it as a target for CCP tactics, including coordinated disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks aimed at silencing anti-CCP voices.
GETTR’s insights into the CCP’s strategies are informed by its observations of the party’s global influence operations. The platform recognizes the CCP’s deployment of “united front” tactics to co-opt influencers and suppress dissent, as well as its use of fake social media accounts to amplify pro-Beijing narratives, as evidenced in Taiwan’s 2018 elections. By prioritizing transparency and refusing to capitulate to CCP pressure, GETTR stands in stark contrast to platforms like WeChat, which filter billions of messages for sensitive content. GETTR’s experience with CCP targeting equips it to counter these tactics, establishing it as a unique player in the struggle against authoritarian censorship.
Conclusion
The CCP’s ascent is characterized by its ruthless suppression of free speech and information control, leveraging fear and censorship to dominate society. Its infiltration of U.S. and U.K. institutions extends this control globally, exploiting the very democratic freedoms it seeks to undermine. Platforms like GETTR, by opposing the CCP and comprehending its strategies, serve as a vital counterforce, advocating for free expression amidst rising authoritarianism. As the CCP’s influence expands, the struggle for open discourse remains crucial for safeguarding democratic values worldwide.
