Decoding Key CCP Political Slogans and Rhetoric in Xi Jinping Era
Chinese original, English translation, and implications
“But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.”
— George Orwell, 1984
In 1984, George Orwell envisioned a totalitarian state where the ruling Party and its figurehead, Big Brother, used “Newspeak” as a tool of control. By manipulating language, they narrowed the scope of independent thought.
In contemporary China, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) employs a similar logic: by tightly controlling language and embedding political slogans into daily life, the regime seeks to shape and constrain how people think.
The following is a selection of slogans frequently seen on banners, billboards, government buildings, state-owned enterprises, residential compounds, and in schools across China.
Arranged in the order of English translation, Chinese original, and implications of each slogan.
Long live the great, glorious, and perpetually correct Communist Party of China!
伟大、光荣、正确的中国共产党万岁！
Reinforces the CCP’s moral and historical legitimacy; casts the Party as infallible and sacred.
Without the Communist Party, there would be no China
没有共产党，就没有中国
Equates country = CCP; used to eliminate the distinction between country and regime.
Closely unite around the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core
紧密团结在以习近平同志为核心的党中央周围
Personalizes political loyalty toward Xi Jinping; centralizes power around one deity.
Stay true to the original mission and keep the mission firmly in mind
不忘初心，牢记使命
Moral framing for permanent loyalty; used to promote ideological purity and obedience within the Party.
Two Upholds & Two Establishes
两个维护、两个确立
Institutionalizes loyalty to Xi Jinping as core leader and Xi Jinping Thought as the CCP ideology.
Chinese-style modernization to realize national rejuvenation
以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴
Reframes modernization as uniquely Chinese and tightly linked to national pride and CCP leadership.
Whole-process people's democracy
全过程人民民主
Attempts to legitimize China’s political system as democratic despite lack of electoral pluralism.
Marxism + Chinese realities + traditional culture
把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合
Merges CCP ideology with nationalism and Confucian revivalism to broaden ideological appeal.
Education, science, and talent are strategic foundations
教育、科技、人才是全面建设社会主义现代化国家的基础性、战略性支撑
Justifies ideological control over education and science in the name of national development, emphasizing the strategic role of science and technology in China’s internal surveillance and rise as a global leader.
Cultivate a new generation to shoulder the mission of national rejuvenation
着力培养担当民族复兴大任的时代新人
Shapes youth identity as duty-bound to CCP goals; justifies political education starting from childhood.
Forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, including all ethnic groups in China
铸牢中华民族共同体意识
Pushes assimilation of minorities, strengthening national unity and consolidating loyalty to a singular Chinese national identity. Used to justify repressive policies in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Tibet.
National security is the foundation of national rejuvenation
国家安全是民族复兴的根基
Expands the scope of "national security" to justify censorship, surveillance, and repression.
CCP’s absolute leadership over the military is a fundamental feature of Chinese socialism
党对军队的绝对领导是中国特色社会主义的本质特征
Reinforces that the army is loyal to the CCP, or in reality, Xi himself, not the state, nor the people/taxpayers. Confirm military force is the tool of CCP/Xi.
Promote self-confidence, innovation, and disciplined struggle
自信自强、守正创新，踔厉奋发、勇毅前行
A rhetorical appeal to enhance productivity and loyalty amid tightening political control, implicitly urging ordinary citizens to limit consumption, refrain from comparing themselves to privileged officials, and accept hardship or poverty as a normalized part of life.
Endure hardship, dare to struggle, excel at struggle
务必艰苦奋斗，务必敢于斗争，善于斗争
Appeals to revolutionary legacy and justifies social or international confrontation.
Roll up your sleeves and work hard
撸起袖子加油干
Populist call for grassroots mobilization; often used to rally officials to meet targets.
Unity leads to victory; struggle brings success
团结才能胜利，奋斗才会成功
Justifies suppression of dissent in the name of unity and national greatness.
Strengthen ideological work and moral education in schools
深入开展社会主义核心价值观宣传教育，深化爱国主义、集体主义、社会主义教育
Codifies ideological indoctrination into school curricula from early education onward.
Promote higher-quality development in frontier ethnic regions
在推动边疆民族地区高质量发展上展现更大作为
Often paired with ethnic assimilation; obedience to the CCP, erosion of languages/religious belief in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Inner Mongolia, frames development as justification for tight control.
Persistently advance full and strict CCP governance
持之以恒推进全面从严治党
Ongoing anti-corruption and loyalty campaigns; reinforces Xi’s dominance over the CCP.
Unite as “one piece of hard steel” under the CCP’s flag
在党的旗帜下团结成“一块坚硬的钢铁”
Militarized metaphor of unity; ideological uniformity by force.