CDT presents a month-to-month sequence of censored content material that has been added to our “404 Deleted Content material Archive.” Every month, we publish a abstract of content material blocked or deleted (typically yielding the message “404: content material not discovered”) from Chinese language platforms resembling WeChat, Weibo, Douyin, Xiaohongshu (RedNote), Bilibili, Zhihu, Douban, and others. Though this content material archived by CDT Chinese language editors represents solely a small fraction of the net content material that disappears every day from the Chinese language web, it supplies beneficial perception into which matters are thought of “delicate” over time by the Occasion-state, our on-line world authorities, and platform censors. Our absolutely searchable Chinese language-language “404 Deleted Content material Archive,” at present accommodates 2,274 deleted articles, essays, and different items of content material. The entry for every deleted merchandise consists of the writer/social media account title, the unique publishing platform, the subject material, the date of deletion, and extra data.
Under is a abstract of deleted content material from October 2025. Between October 1-31, CDT Chinese language added 31 new articles, principally from WeChat, to the archive. Subjects focused for deletion in October included: the sentencing of officers over the dying of a detainee; environmental points (resembling manufacturing unit air pollution in Mianyang, Sichuan, and a controversial fireworks show in Shigatse, Gyantse County, Tibet); the Nobel Prizes; the lethal crash of a Xiaomi SU7 electrical automobile in Chengdu; the re-sentencing of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan; overly intrusive Chikungunya-prevention measures in Guangdong; crop failures as a consequence of heavy autumn rains in Henan; and the approaching closure (later cancelled) of You Xing Bookstore in Chengdu. (Observe that the dates on this abstract discuss with when an article was printed on the CDT web site, not when it was deleted from Chinese language social-media platforms.)
- “Three Years After a Detainee’s Dying Underneath RSDL, 11 Case Officers Sentenced,” by Han Qiang on the Southern Weekly
October 1, 2025
(As of Sept. 30, this text returns a “404 error” on the Southern Weekly’s web site, though it stays seen on the newspaper’s official WeChat account. The Southern Weekly, together with Caixin, has printed quite a few articles on this case since 2023.)
On September 28, verdicts have been introduced in two instances associated to the 2022 dying of 34-year-old Bao Qinrui, who died of a pulmonary embolism introduced on by the beatings, electrical shocks, and restraints he was subjected to throughout 13 days underneath RSDL (“residential surveillance at a chosen location”) in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. Eleven law enforcement officials have been convicted of crimes together with intentional harm and extorting confessions by torture, and given sentences starting from 21 months to 16 years in jail. Satirically, a number of of the officers on trial claimed that they, too, had been mistreated throughout pre-trial detention, and tortured into confessing.
Though not talked about within the article, the Supreme Folks’s Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Safety just lately floated reforms to RSDL rules that will, amongst different adjustments, prohibit interrogations at RSDL websites and require that attorneys be granted entry to their purchasers inside 48 hours. Many authorized specialists have referred to as for the abuse-prone RSDL system to be scrapped, moderately than merely reformed.
- “Hu Chenfeng and Zhang Xuefeng: Two Scapegoats,” from WeChat account Citizen Jin Jianguo
October 2, 2025
Amid the Our on-line world Administration of China’s new marketing campaign to fight “malicious” negativity on-line, a number of on-line influencers with massive followings have been slapped with multi-platform bans, together with academic coach and college entrance examination tutor Zhang Xuefeng and concrete life-style influencer Hu Chenfeng. On this article, Jin dissects the failings in current state-media criticisms of Zhang and Hu, arguing that the pair have been scapegoated for merely stating the socioeconomic realities and inequalities that exist in China at present. “Training didn’t grow to be ‘utilitarian’ due to Zhang Xuefeng,” writes Jin. “Somewhat, in a society that universally venerates utilitarianism, Zhang Xuefeng emerged as a response to the instances.”
- “South Korea’s ‘Love Korea, Resist China’ Demonstrations Criticized by President [Lee Jae Myung] for Damaging Nationwide Dignity,” by Xiang Dongliang, WeChat account Constructive Opinions
October 2, 2025
Widespread science blogger Xiang Dongliang discusses the South Korean authorities’s response to anti-China demonstrations in Seoul following approval of visa-free entry for Chinese language tour teams and an inflow of mainland vacationers throughout China’s October 1 Nationwide Day vacation. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung criticized the protests as uncultured and dangerous to Korea’s pursuits and nationwide dignity, stating that Chinese language vacationers ought to be welcomed moderately than insulted. Xiang writes approvingly of President Lee’s condemnation of utmost nationalism and xenophobia, and contrasts it with the Indian authorities’s tacit approval of xenophobic shows. Though Xiang doesn’t explicitly point out China, his subtext is obvious, ending with this observe of warning: “If the ‘wildfire’ of utmost nationalism isn’t promptly extinguished, sooner or later, there shall be no controlling its unfold.”
- “The Unfortunate Suckers Who Purchase and Then Promote at a Loss,” by moomoocat, WeChat account 猫笔刀 (Māo bǐ dāo)
October 3, 2025
The primary a part of this text from finance blogger moomoocat discusses China’s jade market, through which high-end consumers sometimes lose 10-40% of their authentic buy value when reselling jade. The writer describes these resellers as mid-size enterprise house owners determined to liquidate their property in a foul financial local weather, and notes that they’d have been higher off investing in gold or ETFs. That is adopted by a abstract of current enterprise information, together with a brand new spherical of U.S. tariffs on furnishings, fixtures, and prescribed drugs; July and August revenue reviews for numerous Chinese language industries; a report on gold and silver futures; and particulars of Bytedance’s deal to partially divest from TikTok and promote a stake within the app to a consortium of U.S. traders.
- “World’s Largest Bodily Bookstore, Newly Opened, Faces Controversy Over ‘Poisonous Fumes’ Throughout Nationwide Day Vacation,” by Brother Nut, WeChat account The Scenario’s Sophisticated
October 4, 2025
A protracted, informative article by conceptual artist and environmental activist Brother Nut concerning the grand opening of Shenzhen’s showpiece 131,000 m² brick-and-mortar bookstore, which welcomed 120,000 guests on its first day. Many bookstore guests complained of being overwhelmed by fumes and experiencing dizziness and discomfort, presumably as a consequence of formaldehyde, benzene, and different risky natural compounds launched by the constructing’s newly put in picket bookshelves and inventory of over 100,000 books. Brother Nut means that the bookstore’s opening, like many different such high-profile initiatives, was probably rushed for political causes. He additionally notes that whereas the undertaking might have handed a much less rigorous indoor‐air take a look at, primarily based on the doorways being closed for just one hour, it most likely falls in need of the voluntary normal testing, primarily based on the doorways being closed for 12 hours—a regulatory loophole through which “authorized” doesn’t represent “secure.” The article ends with a name for presidency regulators and the bookstore’s backer (Shenzhen Publishing Group) to hold out clear testing and treatment the issue, and consists of some recommendation and speak to data for members of the general public who want to report their experiences with indoor air air pollution on the bookstore.
- “As Nobel Prize in Chemistry Attracts International Consideration, It’s So Heartbreaking to See Others Win Awards,” by Zang Qiyu, WeChat account 律侠普法 (Lǜxiá pǔfǎ)
October 9, 2025
Lawyer and legal-affairs blogger Zang Qiyu criticizes the scant Chinese language press protection of this 12 months’s Nobel Prize for Chemistry: Japan’s Susumu Kitagawa, Australia’s Richard Robson, and U.C. Berkeley’s Omar Yaghi have been collectively awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his or her work creating superabsorbent metal-organic frameworks. One outstanding Chinese language information outlet devoted solely twenty Chinese language characters to the announcement, uncared for to say the names and nationalities of the scientists, and famous solely that “three folks received the award and cut up the prize cash equally.” Zang chalks up this cool response to resentment over the dearth of Chinese language Nobel Prize winners in recent times, and reminds readers that “even Nobel Literature laureate Mo Yan has been vilified, and I can’t even point out the title of a sure Nobel Peace Prize laureate.” [This refers to literary critic and democracy activist Liu Xiaobo, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 while imprisoned in China.]
- “Shanghai Baoshan Judicial Authorities’ Method to Legislation Enforcement Is Like ‘Blind Males Touching An Elephant,’” by the households of the defendants within the “Hengwan” fraud case, from WeChat account But One other Deep-Sea Fishing Expedition
October 10, 2025
In a deleted submit from September, the households of the defendants within the “Hengwan” case accused police and prosecutors in Shanghai’s Baoshan District of illegally concentrating on the Beijing-based academic and coaching firm to satisfy 2023 anti-fraud marketing campaign quotas. On this submit, deleted in October, the households accuse prosecutors of behaving like “blind males touching an elephant”—in different phrases, of over-generalizing primarily based on inadequate proof. Particularly, the households say that whereas investigators solely interviewed 10 Hengwan trainees (out of over 3,500 complete trainees) who say they have been defrauded, prosecutors arbitrarily set the variety of fraud victims within the case at 200, and a separate audit cited the equally arbitrary determine of 290 victims. The households complain that this violates the rights of the defendants, as a result of their attorneys don’t have any solution to counter the prosecutors’ costs with out understanding who the alleged victims are.
- “All Present Discussions About Bride Value Overlook One Factor,” by 三月vulcanus (Sānyuè vulcanus, “March vulcanus”), WeChat account 三月云 (Sānyuè yún, “March Cloud”)
October 10, 2025
WeChat account March Cloud steadily blogs about matters associated to feminism and ladies’s rights. This text begins with some screenshotted social media posts describing girls as “gold diggers,”complaining about excessive bride costs—funds constructed from the groom’s household to the bride’s household, versus dowry funds, that are the other—and arguing that bride costs in China ought to be regulated by the federal government. That is adopted by a screenshot of a headline from the Nanjing Morning Put up about three web customers who have been punished by police for fabricating rumors resembling “a groom and his mom jumped right into a river after the bride demanded an additional 20,000 yuan for her bride value.” March Cloud factors out one thing that’s usually ignored: that though girls are sometimes blamed for being grasping, they often will not be the beneficiaries of excessive bride costs. The primary content material of this text is within the type of 9 screenshots (probably an unsuccessful try to keep away from the article being censored) that present historic background into bride costs in China. The true beneficiaries of the bride value system will not be the girl getting married, however a bunch of others: the groom, who might use the wedding as a possibility to grab a share of his household’s property earlier than his mother and father die; the bride’s mother and father, who may even see the bride value as due compensation for the expense of elevating and feeding a daughter who will finally go away their dwelling; and even the bride’s youthful brother or brothers, if their mother and father switch their sister’s bride value bounty to their very own “marriage funds.”
- “The Proof Towards Her Is Proof of Her Righteousness,” by Li Yuchen, WeChat account Javelin 33
October 9, 2025
A former lawyer, citizen journalist, and religious Christian, Zhang Zhan spent 4 years in jail for reporting from Wuhan through the COVID-19 lockdown. She was finally launched, however was sentenced to a different 4 years in a closed-door trial in Shanghai on September 19 of this 12 months. This censored article from Li Yuchen argues that the very “proof” getting used in opposition to Zhang Zhan is proof of her righteousness, testimony to her unwavering sense of justice. He mentions the psychiatric analysis that pronounced her as “clear-headed,” used as core proof of intent; her “documentary actions” difficult the CCP’s dominant narratives; and her “unrepentant” angle (i.e. returning to activism, post-release) that police and prosecutors argue make her a “harmful particular person” resistant to state management. What the system is placing on trial right here, writes Li, is Zhang’s deep sense of conscience and adherence to the next ethical code.
An illustration of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan (supply: WeChat account 标枪33 / Javelin 33)
- “A Two-Minute Life-or-Dying Rescue Try by Passersby: A Burning Automotive, and Doorways That Wouldn’t Open,” by Southern Weekly reporters Chen Jiahui and Wu Xiaofei, from the Southern Weekly
October 14, 2025
This in-depth report on a deadly crash and automobile hearth in Chengdu consists of interviews with passersby who unsuccessfully tried to rescue the motive force from the burning automobile, a Xiaomi SU7 EV. It raises security considerations about EVs and means that rescuers’ incapability to extricate the motive force might have been as a consequence of an influence failure of the automobile’s electronically managed doorways. The report additionally lists a number of different current accidents through which passengers have been trapped in burning EVs. Though this isn’t talked about within the report, EV security is a closely censored subject on the Chinese language web. In April, after three passengers have been killed in a crash of their Xiaomi EV whereas the autopilot function was engaged, the Chinese language Ministry of Trade and Info Expertise ordered automakers to cease hyping the capabilities of sensible driving expertise.
- “How Many Folks Are on China’s Authorities Payroll? How Many Is Affordable, and How Many Is Too Many?” WeChat account Da He Rises (大何崛起, Dà Hé Juéqǐ)
October 15, 2025
Drawing closely from analysis by three Fudan College students (Zhang Jun, Ma Xinrong, and Liu Zhikuo), printed within the July 2025 challenge of the China Financial Quarterly, this prolonged article examines the info on China’s civil service and authorities worker payroll, and asks whether or not it constitutes a drag on China’s financial system. The writer notes the rise in authorities workers over time and the burden of paying pensions to tens of thousands and thousands of retired public workers, and estimates that roughly 5 p.c of China’s inhabitants are technically “on the federal government’s payroll.” The piece concludes with an argument that the federal government doesn’t create wealth however solely distributes it, and that bureaucrats are analogous to a automobile’s air-conditioning or brakes, moderately than its engine—crucial parts, however not what makes the automobile run.
- “Yours Really Really Thinks That Hu Xijin Is Proper,” WeChat account Cicero by the Sea
October 15, 2025
In October, nationalist pundit and former International Instances Editor-in-Chief Hu Xijin’s spirited criticism of the “collective silence” on Chinese language social media sparked intense debate. On this article, WeChat blogger Cicero by the Sea admits that he agrees with Hu’s evaluation that folks have grow to be extra hesitant to talk, and offers some examples from his personal expertise of being harassed by on-line trolls for elevating professional questions concerning the security of Xiaomi electrical autos after two deadly crashes of Xiaomi SU7 EVs. However the writer additionally writes that Hu by no means actually makes an attempt to research what underlies China’s chilling on-line silence: to focus on this level, Cicero by the Sea begins and ends his now-deleted article with the plaintive query, “However why?”
- “Fireworks Show ‘Sweeps Away’ Total County Occasion Committee and Management Workforce,” by Xiang Dongliang, WeChat account Constructive Opinions
October 15, 2025
Blogger Xiang Dongliang analyzes the political fallout from artist Cai Guoqiang’s controversial fireworks show in Shigatse, Gyantse County, Tibet. The show, authorized by native authorities and sponsored by the outside attire model Arc’teryx, drew heated criticism for threatening a fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Many officers have been consequently sacked, together with Gyantse county’s Communist Occasion secretary, public safety chief, and two senior members of metropolis and county environmental businesses. Xiang argues that the unusually heavy spherical of penalties stemmed from a mix of procedural violations, political concerns, and ecological considerations, and warns that in counties with equally monolithic decision-making constructions, such ecological and public-opinion disasters are virtually unattainable to stop.
- “Regardless of Little Hope of Profitable the Nobel Prize, We’re Nonetheless Tackling Huge Challenges,” by Xiong Taihang, from WeChat account Simply name me Xiong Taihang
October 16, 2025
Xiong Taihang, former writer and editor-in-chief of Weblog Weekly journal, parodies the defensive and “whataboutist” tone of a Beijing Every day opinion piece (“Whether or not or Not We Win International Awards Is Not Indicative of China’s Progress”) that sought to downplay current Nobel Prize awards to 2 Japanese scientists. Arguing that Nobel Prizes do nonetheless matter as a result of they acknowledge novel scientific breakthroughs of profit to all humankind, Xiong affords a sardonic interpretation of a very prickly paragraph within the Beijing Every day op-ed: “What does this [paragraph] imply? It signifies that though we’d not get a Nobel Prize, we’re tackling huge challenges and doing nice issues, and principally kicking ass in different areas. If solely we might apply such glib deflection to our day by day lives.”
Half Two will observe quickly.
