Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, recently posted pictures and a famous video of the former Chairman Mao Zedong on social media. This move further demonstrates the country’s hard line approach, as tensions continue escalating with the United States. The posts, which surfaced over the past two days, prominently feature a message from Chairman Mao during the Korean War, emphasizing China’s determination: “no matter how long this war lasts we will never yield.”
These posts are timely, coming right when the U.S. Chinese leadership has been very clear that they will not retaliate against further US tariff hikes. The government deploys Chairman Mao, a supreme cultural icon of the Communist Party and of national endurance. This approach conveys power, both to its domestic audience and to international watchers.
As such Chairman Mao is commonly seen as the personification of China’s historical struggle against foreign encroachment. His likeness represents the nation’s resilience, unity and tirelessness. It equally illustrates the depth of feeling to oppose what is seen as an existential threat from foreign invaders, particularly from the US. The Chinese government has done its best to calm its citizens’ nerves by proclaiming how well-equipped it is to weather these spiral-down challenges.
Mao Ning’s posts highlight a dual strategy: to bolster national pride among the Chinese populace while simultaneously signaling a robust front against U.S. trade policies. Despite these efforts, the government has deployed a series of preferred historical narratives to solidify its political mandate. Simultaneously, it is addressing some very complex economic challenges on the home front.
Even with this display of strength, analysts point out that the Communist Party is facing enormous economic challenges. The desire to avoid an all-out trade war with the U.S. remains evident, as China seeks to stabilize its economy while managing external pressures.