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 (usually yielding the message “404: content material not discovered”) from Chinese language platforms similar to WeChat, Weibo, Douyin (TikTok’s counterpart within the Chinese language market), 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 precious perception into which subjects are thought of “delicate” over time by the Social gathering-state, our on-line world authorities, and platform censors. Our absolutely searchable Chinese language-language “404 Deleted Content material Archive,” at the moment incorporates 2,320 deleted articles, essays, and different items of content material. The entry for every deleted merchandise consists of the creator/social media account identify, the unique publishing platform, the subject material, the date of deletion, and extra data.
Beneath is Half Two of CDT’s abstract of deleted content material from November 2025. (Half One consists of 16 deleted posts; Half Two consists of 14 deleted posts.) Between November 1-30, CDT Chinese language added 30 new articles, largely from WeChat, to the archive. Matters focused for deletion in November included: the catastrophic highrise hearth at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Courtroom; criticism of Tencent for censoring investigative reporting from reputed Shanghai media outlet The Paper; Sanae Takaichi’s controversial feedback on Taiwan and their results on Sino-Japanese relations and Chinese language tourism to Japan; the plight of migrant staff returning to the countryside on account of sluggish job prospects in cities; and ongoing makes an attempt by officers in Miangyang, Sichuan province to manage public opinion a couple of critical phosphate air pollution drawback there. (Observe that the dates on this abstract confer with when an article was revealed on the CDT web site, not when it was deleted from Chinese language social-media platforms.)
- “An Evaluation of the Wording of Statements from Officers, Attorneys, and the Manufacturing unit in Query,” WeChat account The Scenario’s Sophisticated
November 17, 2025
This text from an environmentally centered WeChat account dissects the wording of current statements made by a neighborhood environmental bureau, a manufacturing unit consultant, and an middleman lawyer relating to a air pollution scandal in Mianyang, Sichuan province. Using the time period “no irregular knowledge discovered,” notes the creator, doesn’t imply that there isn’t a air pollution, simply that the air pollution didn’t exceed a sure threshold throughout the testing interval. And the phosphate manufacturing unit’s declare that it “proactively” put in new gear appears deceptive, provided that it was a mandatory, regulator-mandated improve. The piece examines how sure “PR ways”—similar to accusing critics of harboring “ulterior motives” or invoking “historic and geographical causes” for the air pollution—are getting used to evade accountability and mitigate public anger.
- “Japanese Official Bows Head in Assembly With Chinese language Counterpart; Hu Xijin is Thrilled, however the Feedback Part Is Extra Clear-Headed,” by Xu Peng, WeChat account Huanxisha Du Fu
November 18, 2025
An article criticizing former World Occasions editor Hu Xijin and different nationalist pundits for crowing over a photograph of a Japanese official bowing his head throughout talks together with his Chinese language counterpart. Whereas Hu took it as an indication of Japanese obeisance, a diplomatic victory for China amid current Sino-Japanese tensions, extra wise observers identified that the Japanese envoy’s posture merely mirrored Japanese etiquette {and professional} courtesy. The article consists of screenshots of some feedback under Hu’s publish accusing him of being ignorant, out of contact, and engaged in wishful pondering.
- “Whereas Yu Minhong Enjoys the Sunshine in Antarctica, His Workers Toil in Darkness,” WeChat account Mu Qi Says
November 18, 2025
A brief piece a couple of tone-deaf electronic mail despatched to staff by Yu Minhong, founder and president of New Oriental Training & Know-how Group, throughout Yu’s current cruise to Antarctica. Yu congratulated his workers on New Oriental’s thirty second anniversary, whereas waxing poetic in regards to the pure great thing about Antarctica and its steady polar sunshine. Contrasting Yu’s lavish journey with the grueling working hours and anxiety-inducing KPIs that his odd staff should take care of, the creator argues that Yu’s inspirational rhetoric in regards to the worth of arduous work is hypocritical and elitist.
- “What Measures Can Be Taken to Stop a Massive-Scale Inflow of Returned Migrant Employees From Rural Stagnation?” by Xiang Dongliang, WeChat account Constructive Opinions
November 18, 2025
Blogger Xiang Dongliang discusses native authorities considerations in regards to the inflow of unemployed migrant staff returning to their rural hometowns, and examines what coverage measures may assist forestall these returnees from “stagnating” of their careers or falling again into poverty within the countryside. Xiang writes that most of the options being mentioned—similar to creating rural public service jobs or enhancing vocational coaching—usually show impractical on account of native funds constraints, unpredictable labor markets, and weak total financial progress. He additionally predicts that administrative “evaluation and supervision” will seemingly turn into the first software for enforcement, shifting the burden onto underfunded native governments.
- “If I Meet Your Gaze, I Lose: The Qing Dynasty’s ‘Scowling Diplomacy,’” by Xiaoyuan Benyuan, WeChat account Xiao Yuan Reads Ming Dynasty Historical past
November 20, 2025
An historic evaluation of the Qing Dynasty’s peculiar strategy to international coverage, dubbed “scowling diplomacy,” which prioritized symbolic acts of disdain over substantive negotiation. The creator writes that Qing officers usually averted eye contact, stored their palms hidden, and maintained solemn expressions, believing that sustaining a superior posture would show the Celestial Empire’s dignity and superiority. This led the Qing to make profound strategic blunders, such because the missed alternative to know British energy in the course of the 1793 Macartney Mission, the primary British diplomatic mission to China. By remaining blind to world energy shifts, the Qing Courtroom sowed the seeds of its later navy and political failures.
- “LOL, That Guangming Every day Commentary” by Tune Zhibiao, WeChat account 旧闻评论 (Jiùwén Pínglùn, “Commentary on Outdated Information”)
November 23, 2025
Commentator and former journalist Tune Zhibiao discusses the backlash to a front-page op-ed revealed by state-media outlet Guangming Every day, titled “Giving My Coronary heart and Soul to Our Beloved Motherland.” Penned by Guangming Every day Deputy Editor-in-Chief Chen Pingao, the opinion piece excoriated Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi “and her ilk” for making saber-rattling remarks about defending Taiwan within the occasion of a Chinese language invasion. To assist his argument, Chen quoted some “patriotic” feedback from Chinese language social media, together with this one, purportedly from an assembly-line lathe operator: “As a way to struggle again towards Sanae Takashi’s provocation, I requested my group chief for permission to work 5 further shifts each month, beginning this month, with out pay.” This quote specifically prompted a backlash within the op-ed’s feedback part, with many netizens stating that the social media remark was seemingly sarcastic, and that Chen carelessly misinterpreted it. Following the humiliating backlash, the lathe operator’s quote was deleted from variations of the op-ed reposted on Phoenix.com and NetEase.com, remained seen for a time on the Guangming Every day web site, and now seems to have been deleted from Guangming Every day’s model, as nicely.
- “Some Individuals Really feel That Not Advocating/Hoping for Struggle Is Unpatriotic,” WeChat account DasSchreibenAnDerWand (“The Writing on the Wall”)
November 23, 2025
The creator, a Chinese language scholar learning legislation abroad, responds to critics who felt that their earlier article—which referred to as those that advocate warfare “evil”—was unpatriotic. Pacificism isn’t equal to a scarcity of patriotism, writes the creator, and true patriotism should worth the well-being of a nation’s residents, reasonably than advocating for aggressive conflicts that might inevitably drain assets and decrease dwelling requirements. The article’s strongest criticism is reserved for abroad Chinese language nationalists who, ensconced safely overseas and insulated from the financial and human toll of warfare, cheer for China to go to warfare with Taiwan or Japan.
- “How Far Has Weibo Gone Downhill? ‘What’s On Weibo’ Is Altering Its Title,” Weibo account 评论尸 (Pínglùn Shī, “Remark Corpse”)
November 24, 2025
A quick article that poses the query, “How far has Weibo gone downhill?” A lot of the article is a Chinese language model of a press release from “What’s on Weibo” founder Manya Koetse, explaining that the web site—which has tracked Weibo developments since 2013—will probably be altering its identify to “Eye on Digital China,” in recognition of the diversification of the Chinese language web ecosystem, the rise of AI, and the recognition of platforms similar to WeChat, Douyin, Kuaishou, and Xiaohongshu.
A collage of photos emblematic of an earlier period within the Chinese language web (supply: Eye on Digital China)
- “Hong Kong’s Tai Po Hearth Could Have Revealed the Biggest Hazard for Excessive-Rise Housing,” by Xu Peng, WeChat account Historical past Rhymes
November 26, 2025
Certainly one of many censored articles in November in regards to the catastrophic hearth that engulfed the Wang Fuk Courtroom housing complicated within the Tai Po district of Hong Kong, leading to 160 deaths and almost 80 accidents. The main target of the article is theory that slim areas between the buildings and the presence of bamboo scaffolding coated in low cost netting might have contributed to the catastrophe by permitting the fireplace to unfold extra shortly. The creator writes that the Wang Fuk tragedy serves as a stark warning in regards to the long-term security dangers of high-density, growing older “vertical communities” in Hong Kong, mainland China, and elsewhere.
- “Why Did Hong Kong Burn Like This?” WeChat account 码头青年 (Mǎtou Qīngnián, Port Youth)
November 27, 2025
An article expressing profound shock and unhappiness that such a extreme city catastrophe because the Wang Fuk hearth may happen in Hong Kong, a metropolis as soon as famend for its order and effectivity. The creator mentions numerous sides of the catastrophe: the victims had been predominantly aged residents unable to evacuate shortly; the 40-year-old complicated was present process renovations on the time; extremely flammable nylon netting and bamboo scaffolding used throughout renovation might have contributed to the blaze spreadinh so shortly. The creator additionally means that insufficient regulatory oversight might have performed a job, and hyperlinks this to a broader systemic decline in Hong Kong’s governance and regulatory enforcement over the previous decade.
- “Hong Kong’s Largest Conflagration is a ‘Reckoning’ 40 Years within the Making,” by Shou Ye, WeChat account 兽楼处 (Shòu lóu chù, “Beast workplace”)
November 28, 2025
Framing the Wang Fuk hearth as a sort of “reckoning” for Hong Kong’s hyper-dense public housing mannequin, this text means that the complicated’s “versatile cross-shaped” design with eight housing models per flooring amplified the fireplace’s unfold. The tragedy was exacerbated, says the creator, by a long-delayed exterior renovation challenge utilizing extremely flammable supplies to save lots of prices. The creator additionally argues that the failure to improve to safer metallic scaffolding was on account of political resistance by the highly effective bamboo scaffolding staff’ union. (The function of bamboo scaffolding within the hearth is, nonetheless, intensely disputed.)
- “Evaluating the Hong Kong Hearth to the 2010 Shanghai Jiaozhou Street Hearth: Extreme Subcontracting, Misappropriation of Funds, Compensation Schemes, and Housing Worth Aftereffects,” by Uncle Da, WeChat account Uncle Da’s Principle of Evolution
November 28, 2025
WeChat blogger Uncle Da discusses among the parallels between the Hong Kong Wang Fuk hearth and the 2010 Shanghai Jiaozhou Street hearth, claiming that each had been preventable high-rise disasters stricken by poor challenge administration and using outdated, flammable building supplies. The creator writes that the Shanghai hearth concerned intensive subcontracting that pushed threat onto low-level staff, whereas the Hong Kong hearth concerned alleged misappropriation of renovation funds. The piece concludes by noting that even 15 years later, many victims of the Shanghai hearth are nonetheless awaiting monetary compensation.
- “Minimize Off Mid-Tune! Will The whole lot Be Cancelled Now?” by Japanese Drama Room-Kun, WeChat account Japanese Drama and Music Room
November 28, 2025
An extended, photo-illustrated article a couple of wave of cancellations of Japanese live shows and cultural occasions throughout China, together with these from main artists like J-pop icon Ayumi Hamasaki (who carried out to an empty stadium after authorities shut down her present). The abrupt shutdowns, generally occurring mid-performance or simply hours earlier than showtime, had been attributed to “pressure majeure” following Sino-Japanese diplomatic tensions sparked by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s feedback on Taiwan. The creator notes that the suspension of movie approvals and reside performances alerts a major freeze in Sino-Japanese cultural trade, and likens this to the almost decade-long restrictions that China positioned on South Korean leisure following the THAAD missile protection dispute.
- “The Low-to-Center Revenue Residents of the Hong Kong Housing Advanced That Caught Hearth,” by Jin Jing, Chen Jingxuan, and Liu Sicong; WeChat account True Story Venture
November 30, 2025
A longform investigative report centered on the financial struggles of Wang Fuk’s low- and middle-income residents, lots of whom invested their life financial savings to buy models within the housing complicated a long time in the past. After shelling out a mean of HK$160,000-180,000 ($20,500-23,000 U.S. {dollars}) per family for a lot wanted exterior repairs, most of the residents spent months dwelling in cramped, darkened, stuffy properties. Then got here the fireplace, the horrible lack of life, the lack of their properties and belongings, and the transfer to resettlement housing. The article underscores how quite a few systemic failures, starting from flawed design to regulatory negligence, have disproportionately victimized a few of Hong Kong’s most weak residents.
