Why forbidden history is suddenly flooding China’s internet

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Something unusual is happening inside China — and it’s spreading fast. As Beijing tightens censorship under its “Clean and Bright” campaign, ordinary Chinese users are doing the opposite: openly sharing forbidden history, taboo symbols, and direct criticism of the Communist Party. From June Fourth imagery appearing on Douyin, to Zhao Ziyang footage resurfacing, to princeling scandals igniting nationwide outrage, fear is visibly receding. Even the military is no longer immune, as clashes erupt between soldiers and their own families in Shanghai. This is no longer isolated dissent or online noise. It’s a sign of a deeper systemic rupture — one the CCP is struggling to contain.

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