According to the ministry, foreign influences are intended to “poison the minds of Chinese youth”, promoting on the Internet attitudes known as “lying flat” – that is, conscious resignation from intensive work and career.
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In the official announcement and the accompanying video published on the WeChat platform, the ministry emphasized that such attitudes lead to the loss of “development dividends, strategic opportunities and the future of the country.” The ministry called on young Chinese to remain true to their aspirations and principles, urging them not to succumb to “surrounding noise” and use the best period in their lives to develop.
The Interior Ministry's warning is part of the authorities' growing concerns about high youth unemployment and the growing number of frustrated workers. This year, China set the lowest economic growth target in decades (excluding the pandemic period), assuming a pace of 4.5-5%.
The situation on the labor market and economic prospects
Even though the prospects in innovative sectors such as artificial intelligence or robotics are promising, the long-term crisis on the real estate market and falling profits are affecting public sentiment. Many young Chinese decide to return to their hometowns or move to cheaper regions, where they take up odd jobs or give up professional activity altogether.
— When the Chinese economy was growing at a rate of about 10 percent. per year, working under pressure brought tangible benefits. This is no longer the case, says Steve Tsang, director of the Soas China Institute in London. — Those who choose to “lie flat” ask, “What's the point of working hard?”
According to the Ministry of State Security, many foreign media funding organizations, think tanks and influencers have been detected promoting narratives such as “lying flat is justice” or “fighting = exploitation.” The ministry emphasizes that “the country flourishes when the youth flourish; the country is strong when the youth are strong”, warning at the same time that “lying flat” may provide temporary relief, but it leads to loss of future opportunities.
In search of those responsible for the economic slowdown
According to experts, in the face of difficulties related to the transformation of the Chinese economy, foreign influences become a convenient “scapegoat”. “The Chinese economy is slowing down, and it is politically impossible for leaders and the media to attribute this to the Chinese Communist Party,” says Tsang.
Katja Drinhausen from the Berlin think tank Merics notes that the “lying flat” attitude has become a real threat to the country's economy and security. — This is an attitude that is completely contrary to Beijing's official line. In these times, we cannot afford for people to question the collective obligation to make an effort – concludes Drinhausen.
