In this thought-provoking article, The New York Times explores how many Chinese observers are drawing parallels between the political turmoil in the United States and China's own Cultural Revolution. Amid the upheaval initiated by the Trump administration and echoed in the symbolic gestures of populist leaders, Chinese commentators find striking similarities to the "decade of turmoil" under Mao Zedong. They observe that tactics reminiscent of the past—ranging from propaganda-like social media posts and personality cults to the elevation of loyal aides—are emerging in America. As one commentator evocatively put it, “I’m overwhelmed with a sense of familiarity — it feels so much like China.” While the two nations differ fundamentally, these observers express a mix of admiration for the disruption of long-held institutions and alarm at the erosion of democratic values, highlighting a deep-rooted cultural disillusionment and the ironies of political systems striving for control.

Key points:

• Many Chinese see echoes of China’s Cultural Revolution in the current U.S. political landscape, with chaos and institutional upheaval drawing comparisons.
• The article notes how strategies used by leaders in both countries, such as cultivating personality cults and surrounding themselves with loyalists, are becoming increasingly similar.
• Social media comments, particularly on platforms like Weibo and X, reveal strong discontent with U.S. policies and communication styles that mirror Chinese propaganda.
• Critics argue that America’s current trajectory, including startling policy shifts under President Trump, resembles the dismantling of traditional institutions seen in the Cultural Revolution.
• Despite fundamental differences—America’s values of liberty, democracy, and the rule of law versus China’s one-party system—there is a common theme of authoritarian practice and power centralization.
• The article includes pointed critiques from various experts and journalists, such as Zhang Wenmin’s remark of “getting out of the frying pan and into the fire,” reflecting the intense skepticism and disillusionment felt by many observers.
  Link to Article