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 resembling 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 offers worthwhile perception into which subjects are thought of “delicate” over time by the Occasion-state, our on-line world authorities, and platform censors. Our totally searchable Chinese language-language “404 Deleted Content material Archive,” presently incorporates 2,344 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 Half Certainly one of CDT’s abstract of deleted content material from December 2025. Between December 1-31, CDT Chinese language added 41 new articles, principally from WeChat, to the archive. Matters focused for deletion in December included:
- Cancellations of Japan-bound flights and excursions, cultural exchanges, and Japanese performances in Shanghai and different cities, amid the continuing Sino-Japanese diplomatic spat over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s feedback on defending Taiwan.
- Complaints in regards to the rise of “the menstrual police” as pro-natalist native household planning officers undertake extra intrusive strategies, together with calling native girls to inquire about their menstrual cycles, childbirth plans, and so on.
- Proposed authorized reforms to the Prisons Legislation and the Public Safety Administration Punishments Legislation (PSPAL).
- Excessive funds to laid-off staff by Canon and different foreign-owned firms in China have been dubbed “malicious compensation” as a result of they make Chinese language firms look unhealthy as compared.
- Rural residents face a steep rise in Rural Cooperative Medical Insurance coverage premiums.
- An advert by food-delivery platform Meituan drew widespread public backlash for over-glorifying the lives of supply riders and ignoring the pains of their jobs.
- A scandal on the Nanjing Museum results in an investigation into whether or not museum employees secretly offered off a number of the museum’s works.
- “Ming Dynasty nostalgia” is a rising pattern on-line.
(Be aware that the dates within the abstract under seek advice from when an article was revealed on the CDT web site, not when it was deleted from Chinese language social-media platforms.)
- “Amid the Ashes of Tens of millions in Misplaced Deposits, Ayumi Hamasaki Makes a Last Stand for Dignity by Performing to an Empty Shanghai Enviornment,” WeChat account 裱糊将 (Biǎohú Jiāng, “The Paper-hanging Normal”)
December 1, 2025
Following Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi’s feedback about Japan’s willingness to defend Taiwan within the occasion of a Chinese language blockade, Chinese language authorities responded by cancelling Japan-bound flights and excursions, cultural exchanges, and quite a few high-profile live shows by Japanese performers. This text discusses the cancellation of Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki’s Shanghai live performance as a result of official strain, or “pressure majeure.” Whereas ticket-buyers obtained refunds, the writer writes, live performance organizers probably misplaced thousands and thousands as a result of sunk prices resembling non-refundable deposits on venues and resort rooms. The writer praises Hamasaki’s choice to carry out to an empty venue as an act {of professional} dedication, creative integrity, and dignity within the face of quixotic officialdom. The piece options some photos of Hamasaki, in addition to singer Maki Otsuki, who appeared shocked when she was interrupted mid-song and had her microphone taken away throughout a separate efficiency in Shanghai.
- “Trying to find Xu Xinrui,” by Li Yuchen, WeChat account Li Yuchen
December 1, 2025
Li Yuchen describes the harrowing story of Xu Xinrui, a younger lady from Chengdu who was “mentally-illed” and spent eight years involuntarily dedicated to a psychiatric hospital after she reported her supervisor Liu Jian to Sichuan provincial Occasion officers for unlawful playing, as a result of he was internet hosting mahjong video games throughout working hours. The article lays naked the facility imbalance between Xu, an orphan with no shut relations to advocate for her launch, and Liu Jian, who used his connections as each a police officer and native Occasion committee deputy secretary to maintain Xu confined, regardless of her having no psychological sickness. The writer follows efforts by Yu Kai and Yang Hui, two legal professionals from Shandong, to go to Li and foyer hospital directors and native officers to safe her launch. When legal professionals and supporters tried to attract consideration to the injustice accomplished to Ms. Xu, even their WeChat submit was censored as a result of unspecified “violations.” (Xu’s case has additionally been reported on by Caixin.)
- “Ayumi Hamasaki and Different Japanese Artists Have been Prohibited From Performing in Shanghai, however Not in Guangzhou,” WeChat account Breaking Information (快速报, Kuàisù bào)
December 1, 2025
This WeChat article discusses the inconsistent software of efficiency laws throughout completely different Chinese language cities. For instance, whereas Shanghai authorities cancelled live shows by Ayumi Hamasaki, Maki Otsuki, and different Japanese artists as a result of ongoing Sino-Japanese diplomatic spat over Taiwan, the southern metropolis of Guangzhou reportedly allowed related occasions to proceed. The article additionally consists of some social media feedback in regards to the cancellations and invitations readers to submit their opinions.
- “These Abuses of Energy Can No Longer Be Handled as Trivial,” by Music Qingren, WeChat account 剑客写字的地方 (Jiànkè xiězì de dìfang, “The place the Swordsman Writes”)
December 1, 2025
Blogger Music Qingren criticizes a dearth of media reporting about an enormous explosion at a fireworks store in Chenzhou, Hunan Province, that set hearth to a constructing, overturned a automotive, and resulted in quite a few accidents. The proprietor of the store, a 30-year-old man surnamed Peng, reportedly ignited the blast and tried to commit suicide by swallowing poison in his automotive. Music asks why, given publicly out there video of the explosion and ample proof that Peng had filed a proper grievance about extortion by native officers—he complained that they’d demanded free fireworks and even money from him on repeated events—Chinese language media retailers selected to attend for the official police assertion as an alternative of diving deeper into the story behind the blast. (Lately, media over-reliance on official statements has been criticized for contributing to the decline of investigative reporting.) These abuses of energy that take the type of shakedowns of small enterprise house owners, writes Music, can now not be handled by the media and society as trivial incidents.
- “Have been Experiences of Ayumi Hamasaki’s ‘One-Particular person Live performance’ False? The ‘Debunkers’ Are Being Disingenuous,” by Xu Peng, WeChat account Historical past Rhymes
December 1, 2025
Xu Peng shoots down claims by Chinese language state-media retailers and nationalist pundit Hu Xijin that Ayumi Hamasaki’s “one-person efficiency to an empty enviornment” was only a rumor. He argues that these claims quantity to gaslighting, and depend on pedantic technicalities—resembling whether or not the stadium was actually 100% empty—to distract from a very powerful reality: that the authorities, for political causes, abruptly cancelled Hamasaki’s efficiency on the 14,000-seat venue after tickets had already been offered.
- “Assertion Concerning Complaints In opposition to Two Articles on This Public Account,” by Liu Su, WeChat account Liu Su’s World of Sci-Tech
December 2, 2025
Botanist and science blogger Liu Su discusses receiving a message from WeChat informing him of complaints made about two of his science-related articles, which have been reported to the platform for “infringement of private privateness/picture/status.” Liu explains that the grievance was probably associated to Li Yongle, a highschool physics trainer and training influencer talked about in each of Liu’s articles. Liu wryly notes that WeChat’s warning got here with this pleasant reminder: “You can too voluntarily delete the articles earlier than the platform overview.” Liu goes on to criticize Shanghai officers’ gaslighting about Ayumi Hamasaki’s choice to carry out to an empty enviornment after they cancelled her live performance on the final minute. Liu writes, “Even my father expressed his disappointment with these crude and heavy-handed strategies, posting on WeChat: ‘Disgrace on you, Shanghai.’ I used to be speechless.”
- “Pressure Majeure Ought to Apply to Rehearsals, Too,” by Wang Xiaolei, WeChat account Liushen Leilei Reads Jin Yong
December 2, 2025
Columnist and former political reporter Wang satirizes Shanghai officers’ dishonest use of the excuse “pressure majeure”—causes past one’s management—to cancel Ayumi Hamasaki’s live performance, and factors out that if there actually have been some menace to security on the live performance venue, authorities shouldn’t have allowed days of rehearsal there. Utilizing examples from the works of novelist Jin Yong, as he usually does, Wang additional picks aside Shanghai officers’ flimsy excuses for cancelling Hamasaki’s efficiency. (Wang has been the goal of censorship earlier than: in 2019, his Weibo account was banned for “publishing dangerous political data.” In mid-December of final yr, his aforementioned WeChat account was shadow-banned, though his associated Weibo, Douyin, and video accounts appeared unaffected.)
- “They’re Reaching Into Folks’s Bedrooms Now: Nonetheless Assume There’s No Drawback?” by 书荼门人 (shūtú ménrén), WeChat account 走读新生 (zǒudú xīnshēng)
December 2, 2025
The article presents three occasions within the information as being emblematic of officers being intrusive and apathetic by turns, because it fits them. The primary issues household planning officers in Yunnan province who not too long ago requested native girls to report the date of their final menstrual interval—in a WeChat group chat, no much less. The second was a few man who was ambushed outdoors a financial institution instantly after he withdrew 1.7 million yuan. Financial institution workers watched however didn’t name the police or intervene as the person grappled with the robbers for 20 minutes. The author contrasts this apathy with the proactiveness of some troubled banks that colluded with police to intimidate and arrest prospects looking for to withdraw their financial savings. The final instance is official inaction and state-media silence in regards to the case of Xu Xinrui, the younger lady beforehand talked about who was involuntarily dedicated to a psychological establishment in retaliation for reporting her supervisor for playing throughout working hours.
- “Some Media Retailers Are Crap ( You, Guancha),” by Xiao Chai, WeChat account 小柴独家体验 (Xiǎo Chái dújiā tǐyàn, “Xiao Chai’s Takes”)
December 2, 2025
Blogger Xiao Chai excoriates Shanghai-based nationalist news-site Guancha.cn and different Chinese language retailers for his or her clumsy makes an attempt to downplay the symbolic significance of Ayumi Hamasaki performing to an empty enviornment after officers in Shanghai cancelled her live performance. Guancha, China Day by day, The Paper, and lots of different retailers highlighted what they claimed was a written apology from a Chinese language videographer who mentioned he misrepresented photos and photographs he took at Hamasaki’s “rehearsal” after which shared on-line. For the actual reality, writes Xiao Chai, all it’s important to do is take a look at Hamasaki’s Instagram messages and images: the flowery stage set, costumes, backup dancers, and different components all reveal that Hamasaki held nothing again, regardless of being denied the possibility to carry out in entrance of her Chinese language followers.
- “First Main Revision of the Prisons Legislation: A Reform Compelled by Actual-World Issues,” by Feng Ye, WeChat account Aquarius Period
December 2, 2025
A longform article from Feng Ye at freelance journalism collective Aquarius Period examines the primary main overhaul of China’s Jail Legislation in many years, which was undertaken reluctantly after repeated scandals involving inmate abuse, denial of medical care, corruption amongst jail officers, and different issues. The revision would strengthen prisoners’ rights to authorized appeals, fundamental medical care, and household and lawyer visits, however many ambiguities and loopholes stay. The tone of the piece is cautiously optimistic, but additionally skeptical of sure components of the proposed revisions, notably given the way in which Chinese language prisons have lengthy functioned as a “black field.” Feng argues that with out unbiased oversight, any modifications to the regulation could stay purely beauty.
- “They’re Monitoring Our Menstrual Cycles Now,” Hereditary Researcher, WeChat account Private Reminiscence Financial institution
December 3, 2025
This text issues latest stories of native officers in Xuanwei, Yunnan province, contacting native moms by means of a WeChat group chat and asking them for the dates of their final menstrual durations. Though the officers claimed it was to assist them present higher companies and help for residents who have been pregnant or planning to turn out to be pregnant, the incident raised issues about privateness violations and treating girls’s our bodies as “state-owned property.” The article goes on to debate some latest demographic developments, together with the autumn in start charges, and the way these could have an effect on Chinese language society, training, and governance.
- “I’ve Change into a Fan of Ayumi Hamasaki,” by 陌上紫藤 (mò shàng zǐténg, “wayside wisteria”), WeChat account 隐入寒烟5 (yǐnrù hányānwǔ）
December 3, 2025
One other article about Chinese language officers’ cancellation of live shows by Japanese singers Ayumi Hamasaki and Maki Otsuki. Though the writer admits they’d by no means heard of Hamasaki earlier than, they turned an immediate fan after seeing her carry out to an empty venue. The piece praises Hamasaki for her professionalism, dignity, and clear love for her followers, noting her promise to launch the efficiency recording to followers sooner or later. “It is unnecessary to punish Japanese performers for the habits of some right-wing Japanese politicians,” writes the writer, “or to morally blackmail Chinese language followers, renege on contracts, and flush China’s worldwide status down the bathroom. This isn’t patriotism, it’s a baby throwing a tantrum and smashing his toys, a spineless coward coming residence in a foul mood and taking out his anger on his spouse and little one!”
- “Sealing Drug-Offense Data Isn’t the Finest Answer, however It’s the Easiest,” by Xiang Dongliang, WeChat account Fundamental Widespread Sense
December 4, 2025
On January 1, a revision to article 136 of the Public Safety Administration Punishments Legislation (PSAPL) went into impact, requiring police to seal the data of assorted misdemeanors, together with minor drug offenses resembling possession, after the offender has accomplished their punishment. The intention was to assist cut back job-discrimination towards misdemeanor offenders and assist them reintegrate into society, however some individuals criticized the brand new rule for being “tender on medicine” or benefitting sure rich or well-known “younger scions” who had been charged with use or possession.
On this article, present affairs commentator Xiang Dongliang acknowledges that whereas sealing misdemeanor data won’t be an ideal resolution, it’s the easiest possibility. He presents three instances of people who would profit from the brand new laws: a girl detained for 3 days for preventing together with her boyfriend now finds that each time she swipes her ID card (at high-speed practice stations, for instance), it triggers an alert and she or he is taken apart for questioning. A person who was detained for 3 days for preventing together with his neighbor was prevented from changing into a firefighter, regardless of assembly all the different {qualifications}. One other man, who was punished for making “inappropriate” on-line remarks, didn’t qualify for the civil service as a result of his previous offense, regardless of having earned the very best rating in his province on the civil service examination. Whereas it is likely to be preferable, Xiang writes, to reform the techniques that perpetuate such discrimination—the ID card system, job-related background checks, or the civil service examination—merely sealing the data of minor offenses is the simplest resolution by far.
- “As Controversy Erupts Over Interval-Monitoring Incident, How Far Are We From the ‘Menstrual Police’?” by Xu Peng, WeChat account Du Fu of Baidicheng
December 5, 2025
Present-affairs blogger Xu Peng created this “reincarnated” WeChat account after his former WeChat account (“Du Fu of Huanhua Creek”) was banned in late November as a result of an article he revealed about nationalism and Sino-Japanese relations. On this piece on his new account, Xu cites stories of native officers in Xuanwei, Yunnan province asking native girls to report the dates of their final durations, and cautions that such bureaucratic intrusiveness is just certain to worsen. He provides the cautionary instance of Romania beneath Ceaușescu, whose efforts to extend the inhabitants led to contraception bans, compelled births, and the much-reviled “menstrual police.” Moderately than continuously monitoring and harassing the inhabitants, Xu suggests, Chinese language officers ought to concentrate on bettering the general high quality of life in the event that they want to encourage individuals to have youngsters.
- “State and Residents Alike Rejoice in Our Collective On-line Sexual Harassment of the Feminine Japanese Prime Minister,” by Li Yuchen, Li Yuchen’s WeChat account
December 5, 2025
Blogger Li Yuchen condemns a sequence of gendered assaults towards Japan’s not too long ago elected feminine Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi by CCTV, World Occasions, and different state-media retailers. These assaults have been amplified by industrial media retailers and on-line nationalists, setting off a deluge of misogynistic and demeaning feedback made by Chinese language netizens, usually with the tacit approval of censors. “What makes this on-line frenzy aimed toward Sanae Takaichi so terrifying,” writes Li, “isn’t simply the viciousness of the language, however its extremely organized and coordinated nature. That is no random and unruly mob, for it’s backed by a well-organized and extremely environment friendly propaganda machine.”
- “That Meituan ‘Public Service Advert’ That Acquired Pulled After Large Backlash Missed the Most Fundamental Level,” by Chloe, WeChat account PRREN
December 6, 2025
A protracted article illustrated with copious photos and screenshots discusses why there was such an enormous public backlash to food-delivery platform Meituan’s rosy advert marketing campaign depicting the lifetime of a younger supply rider. Many on-line commenters castigated the advert for being wildly unrealistic: A younger lady named Ah Lan quits her aggravating white-collar job as a graphic designer, turns into a supply rider for Meiyuan, “enjoys the surroundings alongside the way in which,” and saves up sufficient in simply three months to purchase a brand new 15,000 yuan ($2150 U.S. greenback) digital camera. Within the advert, there’s nary a point out of lengthy hours, low pay, visitors hazards, algorithm-induced stress, or any of the numerous different real-world challenges that supply riders face. Writer Chloe writes that Meituan wants extra empathy and perception into the lives of odd individuals, for the corporate appears to have forgotten that commercials must be reasonable sufficient in order that viewers can relate to them.
- “The Prime Minister’s Belongings Have been 1.459 Million Yuan,” by Hereditary Researcher, WeChat account Private Reminiscence Financial institution
December 8, 2025
The article consists of tables displaying the quantity (in each Japanese yen and Chinese language yuan) of property held by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her cupboard ministers. The writer expresses shock that the PM’s property can be so low, solely about 1.45 million yuan, or $210,000 U.S. {dollars}. This text could possibly be learn as a thinly veiled critique of the shortage of asset disclosure amongst Chinese language officers.
- “Canon’s Zhongshan Manufacturing facility Shuts Down: With 2.5N+1 Severance Packages, Some Staff Stroll Off With 800,000-900,000 Yuan, Weeping as They Go away!” by 魔都囡 (módūnān, “Shanghai gal”), from Phoenix Information/ifeng.com
December 10, 2025
This in-depth article, which was deleted from the Phoenix Information platform however reposted from NetEase, contrasts the beneficiant and humane remedy of laid-off staff by some worldwide firms working in China (resembling Canon, Mercedes Benz, Citibank, and Microsoft) with much less very best remedy by some Chinese language firms. For instance, after Japanese manufacturing big Canon closed its manufacturing unit in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, some very senior employees walked off with practically $130,000, due to a “2.5N+1” severance-package method that provides workers 2.5 occasions their month-to-month wage for yearly of service (represented by “N”), plus a further one month of wage. Such payouts have been criticized by some Chinese language officers, firms, and media retailers as “malicious compensation” that makes Chinese language rival firms look unhealthy by comparability. Expressing concern that the exit of abroad firms will degrade labor rights usually, the writer writes, “If everybody handled workers as human beings and carried out layoffs this honorably, the office would now not be a jungle.”
- “Names of Dozens of Bid-Assessment Consultants Seem to Have Been Lower and Pasted From On-line Database of Names, Elevating Suspicions of Fraud in Some Authorities Procurement Initiatives in Zhuxi, Hubei Province,” by Li Yuguang, from China Youth Day by day
December 11, 2025
After this investigative report by China Youth Day by day journalist Li Yuguang was taken offline solely 48 minutes after it was revealed, Li shared it in PDF type on his private Xiaohongshu (Pink Be aware) account. His report issues the more and more widespread observe of native governments utilizing “filler names”—the commonest of which have been dubbed “the 5 busiest individuals within the web” by on-line wags—which were lower and pasted from a preferred web database of random Chinese language names. These names have been recognized in numerous paperwork, together with lists of contest judges, auditors, consultants, and on this case, a supposed panel of “consultants” tasked with reviewing bids for presidency procurement tasks in Zhuxi, Hubei Province. Li argues that using these random names isn’t any mere mistake, however proof of systematic fraud designed to funnel taxpayer cash to particular insiders whereas sustaining a facade of competitors.
- “Go Be a Meituan Supply Rider, and Earn 1.12 Million Whereas Having fun with the Surroundings!,” by Ni Ren, WeChat account Black Noise
December 11, 2025
Ni Ren, whose WeChat account Black Noise focuses on financial and current-events commentary, dissects two propaganda campaigns extolling the virtues of unrelenting toil and glorifying the lives of meals supply riders. The primary is a viral state-media story of a person who claimed to have earned over 1.4 million yuan (over $200,000 U.S. {dollars}) in 5 years of nonstop work as a food-delivery rider in Shanghai. Ni Ren concedes that this is likely to be attainable, nevertheless it understates the hazards and well being dangers that such a employee would face. The second is food-delivery platform Meituan’s disastrously tone-deaf advert marketing campaign a few younger lady who quits her job as a graphic designer and finds a greater life “having fun with the surroundings” whereas working as a meals supply rider. Among the many questions that Ni Ren raises: Who’s selling these types of tales, and why are they so intent on romanticizing overwork and glorifying struggling? “The poor have solely two issues to promote: their time or their well being,” he writes. “However it’s 2025, not 1985, and we shouldn’t nonetheless be centered on mere ‘survival.’ We’ve been on the highway towards wealth lengthy sufficient now that tales about individuals buying and selling their lives and well being for cash shouldn’t be leveraged for propaganda functions.”
Half Two will comply with shortly.
