«Данное сообщение (материал) создано и (или) распространено иностранным средством массовой информации, выполняющим функции иностранного агента, и (или) российским юридическим лицом, выполняющим функции иностранного агента»

.css-1xjkmih{color:var(—header-rubric-color, var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5));font-family:var(—mb-typeface-serif);font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-body-2-size);font-style:normal;font-weight:var(—mb-font-weight-regular);line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-body-2-leading);font-variant:var(—mb-typestyle-body-2-figures);}

Cynicism at home is becoming a problem

.css-vpmedt{position:relative;-webkit-align-self:auto;-ms-flex-item-align:auto;align-self:auto;}@media (min-width: 22.5rem){.css-vpmedt{grid-column-start:1;}}@media (min-width: 52.125rem){.css-vpmedt{grid-column-start:1;}}@media (min-width: 68.5rem){.css-vpmedt{grid-column-start:2;}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-vpmedt{grid-column-start:3;}}@media (min-width: 89rem){.css-vpmedt{grid-column-start:4;}}@media (min-width: 22.5rem){.css-vpmedt{grid-column-end:7;}}@media (min-width: 52.125rem){.css-vpmedt{grid-column-end:10;}}@media (min-width: 68.5rem){.css-vpmedt{grid-column-end:9;}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-vpmedt{grid-column-end:9;}}@media (min-width: 89rem){.css-vpmedt{grid-column-end:12;}}.css-vpmedt:last-child::after{height:0;}.css-18efhce{margin-top:var(—mb-spacing-xl);}.css-18efhce img{width:100%;}@media (min-width: 60rem){.css-18efhce{margin-top:var(—mb-spacing-2xl);}}.css-3mn275 img{display:block;}.css-3mn275 .e15o9k8g2{margin-top:0.25rem;}.css-1dkrsla{width:100%;font-family:var(—mb-typeface-sans);}.css-1st60ou{font-family:var(—mb-typeface-sans);font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-label-2-size);font-weight:var(—mb-font-weight-regular);font-variant:var(—mb-font-small-caps);line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-label-2-leading);text-transform:lowercase;color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-35);}.e15o9k8g0+.css-1st60ou{margin-left:0.25rem;}Photograph: Xie Huanchi/Xinhua/Eyevine.css-1tgongu .e10mekcw0{margin-bottom:2.1875rem;padding-top:1.75rem;border-top:0.0625rem solid var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);}.css-1tgongu .ei4jjge0{padding:1.25rem 0;border-top:0.0625rem solid var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}.css-1tgongu .ei4jjge0 +.em0l2j50{margin-top:0;}.css-1tgongu .efrhgsj0{margin-top:1.3125rem;margin-bottom:2.1875rem;}.css-1lub2ht{margin-top:0.5rem;}.css-1lub2ht +.evrxsn0{margin-top:0.75rem;}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-1lub2ht +.evrxsn0{margin-top:1.75rem;}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-1lub2ht{margin-top:0.5rem;}}.css-shlg5w{position:relative;border-bottom:0;color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-35);}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-shlg5w{border-bottom:0.0625rem solid var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);}}.css-shlg5w .ebxshaw0{margin-top:0;}.css-shlg5w >.e5z0ibw0>*{padding:var(—mb-spacing-md) 0;}.css-shlg5w >.e5z0ibw0>*:nth-of-type(2){border-top:0.0625rem solid var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-shlg5w >.e5z0ibw0>*:nth-of-type(2){border-top:0;}}.css-shlg5w >.e5z0ibw0 .e5z0ibw0{gap:var(—mb-spacing-sm);}.css-z11z87{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-align-items:stretch;-webkit-box-align:stretch;-ms-flex-align:stretch;align-items:stretch;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-z11z87{-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;}}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-z11z87{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-z11z87{-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}}.css-1rlefqb{font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-label-2-size);font-variant:var(—mb-typestyle-label-2-figures);font-family:var(—mb-typeface-sans);font-weight:var(—mb-font-weight-regular);line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-label-2-leading);color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-35);} May 8th 2025.css-17do188{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}.css-1s3lugw{display:none;}@media (max-width: 37.4375rem){.css-1s3lugw{display:block;}}.css-11yt5xn{position:relative;display:inline;}.css-11yt5xn .eeg8alx0{z-index:100;position:fixed;left:0;bottom:0;width:100%;border-bottom-left-radius:0;border-bottom-right-radius:0;}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-11yt5xn .eeg8alx0{position:absolute;top:1.5rem;bottom:auto;left:auto;right:0;width:auto;border-radius:0.5rem;}}Share.css-dxwvlf{margin-top:0.75rem;width:100%;display:inline-block;}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-dxwvlf{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-dxwvlf:has(.e1wdoy1t0:first-child),.css-dxwvlf:has(.e2uyjhs0:first-child){margin-top:0.875rem;}}.css-dxwvlf .el6zdc80{position:relative;}.css-p6fe6o *+*{margin-top:0.875rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1mvczvy0{margin-top:0;}.css-p6fe6o .e1wdoy1t0:first-child,.css-p6fe6o .e2uyjhs0:first-child{margin:0;}.css-p6fe6o .e1wdoy1t0 +*,.css-p6fe6o .e2uyjhs0 +*{margin-top:1.75rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1wdoy1t0 +.e1mvczvy0,.css-p6fe6o .e2uyjhs0 +.e1mvczvy0,.css-p6fe6o .e1wdoy1t0 +.enls6fv0,.css-p6fe6o .e2uyjhs0 +.enls6fv0,.css-p6fe6o .e1wdoy1t0 +.e1bfu45c0,.css-p6fe6o .e2uyjhs0 +.e1bfu45c0{margin-top:2.1875rem;}.css-p6fe6o *+.e1wdoy1t0,.css-p6fe6o *+.e2uyjhs0{margin-top:1.75rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1mvczvy0+*,.css-p6fe6o .enls6fv0+*,.css-p6fe6o .e1bfu45c0+*{margin-top:2.1875rem;}.css-p6fe6o .exqb7zc0+*{margin-top:1.75rem;}.css-p6fe6o *+.exqb7zc0{margin-top:1.75rem;}.css-p6fe6o *+.e1w3wqse0{margin-top:1.75rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1w3wqse0+*{margin-top:1.75rem;}.css-p6fe6o *+.e1ypdxhw0{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o *+.e1bfu45c0{margin-top:2.1875rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1bfu45c0+*{margin-top:2.1875rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1bfu45c0+.e1mvczvy0{margin-top:2.1875rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1mvczvy0+.e1bfu45c0{margin-top:2.1875rem;}.css-p6fe6o >.e18nv6n10+*{margin-top:0;}.css-p6fe6o .ep3wan50+*{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o .ep3wan50+.ep3wan50{margin-top:0.875rem;}.css-p6fe6o >.e13g57ro0+*{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1ypdxhw0+.e1y9q0ei0{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e13g57ro0+.e1w3wqse0{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e13g57ro0+.exqb7zc0{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1bfu45c0+.e1bfu45c0{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1ypdxhw0+.e13g57ro0{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1ypdxhw0+.e18nv6n10{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e18nv6n10+.e13g57ro0{margin-top:0.875rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e18nv6n10+.exqb7zc0{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o .enls6fv0+*,.css-p6fe6o .e1mvczvy0+*{margin-top:2.1875rem;}.css-p6fe6o *+.enls6fv0,.css-p6fe6o *+.e1mvczvy0{margin-top:2.1875rem;}.css-p6fe6o .enls6fv0+.enls6fv0,.css-p6fe6o .e1mvczvy0+.e1mvczvy0,.css-p6fe6o .enls6fv0+.e1mvczvy0,.css-p6fe6o .e1mvczvy0+.enls6fv0{margin-top:1.3125rem;}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-p6fe6o .enls6fv1{margin-bottom:0.875rem;}}.css-p6fe6o .e1ypdxhw0+.enls6fv1{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1ypdxhw0+.enls6fv1+.e1y9q0ei0{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1bfu45c0+.enls6fv1+.e1y9q0ei0{margin-top:2.1875rem;}.css-p6fe6o .enls6fv1+.e1y9q0ei0+.e13g57ro0{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1w3wqse0+.enls6fv1,.css-p6fe6o .e1w3wqse0+.enls6fv1+.e1y9q0ei0,.css-p6fe6o .exqb7zc0+.enls6fv1+.e1y9q0ei0,.css-p6fe6o .exqb7zc0+.enls6fv1{margin-top:2.1875rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1y9q0ei0+.enls6fv1,.css-p6fe6o .e1y9q0ei0+.enls6fv1+.e1y9q0ei0,.css-p6fe6o .e13g57ro0+.enls6fv1,.css-p6fe6o .e13g57ro0+.enls6fv1+.e1y9q0ei0{margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1y9q0ei0+.ep3wan50{margin-top:1.75rem;}@media (max-width: 37.4375rem){.css-p6fe6o .enls6fv1+.e1y9q0ei0,.css-p6fe6o .exqb7zc0+.enls6fv1+.e1y9q0ei0,.css-p6fe6o .e1w3wqse0+.enls6fv1+.e1y9q0ei0{margin-top:0.875rem;}}.css-p6fe6o .enls6fv1+*:not(.e1y9q0ei0),.css-p6fe6o .enls6fv1+.e1y9q0ei0+*:not(.e1y9q0ei0){clear:both;}.css-p6fe6o *:not(.evrxsn0)+.e1y9q0ei0:has([data-caps=’initial’]:first-child),.css-p6fe6o *:not(.evrxsn0)+.e1y9q0ei0:has(.drop-cap:first-child){margin-top:1.75rem;}.css-p6fe6o .ep3wan50+.e1y9q0ei0:has([data-caps=’initial’]:first-child),.css-p6fe6o .ep3wan50+.e1y9q0ei0:has(.drop-cap:first-child){margin-top:1.3125rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1cbnkh80{clear:both;}.css-p6fe6o *+.e1cbnkh80{margin-top:2.1875rem;}.css-p6fe6o .e1cbnkh80+*{margin-top:2.1875rem;}.css-p6fe6o *+.evrxsn0{margin-top:1.75rem;}.css-p6fe6o .evrxsn0+*{margin-top:0.875rem;}.css-1l5amll{color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);font-family:var(—mb-typeface-serif);font-weight:var(—mb-font-weight-regular);font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-body-2-size);font-variant:var(—mb-typestyle-body-2-figures);line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-body-2-leading);}.css-1l5amll del,.css-1l5amll s{-webkit-text-decoration:strikethrough;text-decoration:strikethrough;}.css-1l5amll strong,.css-1l5amll b{font-weight:var(—mb-font-weight-bold);}.css-1l5amll em,.css-1l5amll i{font-style:italic;}.css-1l5amll sup{font-feature-settings:’sups’ 1;}.css-1l5amll sub{font-feature-settings:’subs’ 1;}.css-1l5amll small,.css-1l5amll .small-caps{display:inline;font-size:inherit;font-variant:var(—mb-font-small-caps);text-transform:lowercase;}.css-1l5amll u,.css-1l5amll .underline{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:0.125rem;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;}.css-1l5amll a{color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-45);text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-underline-offset:0.1875rem;}.css-1l5amll a:hover{color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);text-decoration-thickness:var(—mb-spacing-3xs);}.css-1l5amll a:focus{background-color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-90);color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);outline:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);text-decoration-thickness:var(—mb-spacing-3xs);}.css-1l5amll a:active{background-color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-90);color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);text-decoration-color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);text-decoration-thickness:var(—mb-spacing-3xs);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1l5amll [data-caps=’initial’],.css-1l5amll .drop-cap{float:left;font-feature-settings:’ss08′ 1;font-size:3.5rem;height:3.25rem;line-height:1;margin:0.0625rem 0.2rem 0 0;text-transform:uppercase;}.css-1l5amll [data-ornament=’ufinish’],.css-1l5amll .ufinish{color:var(—mb-colour-brand-red);}.css-1l5amll [data-ornament=’ufinish’]::before,.css-1l5amll .ufinish::before{font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-body-2-size);font-variant:var(—mb-typestyle-body-2-figures);line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-body-2-leading);content:’ ‘;}

Every five years China names hundreds of people as “national model workers”. The latest to receive the honour gathered on April 28th at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People where the country’s leader, Xi Jinping, urged them to “struggle, struggle, struggle to the end”. He avoided any mention of tariffs brought in by America’s president, Donald Trump, but his use of the old Communist rallying cry was clearly intended to show how people should respond. Amid a trade war that could threaten millions of jobs in China, the message is clear: keep your noses to the grindstone and blame any pain on America.

Some workers may wince. An increasing number complain about how hard they are expected to toil. The infamous “996” work ethic—9am to 9pm, six days a week—has spawned an online drop-out counter-culture known as tangping, or “lying flat” (though some may not practise what they preach). Workers complain of neijuan, the idea of spinning your wheels and not getting anywhere. If there is a struggle going on, for some it is just getting out of bed.

Officials have tried to show sympathy with burned-out staff. In July last year the ruling Politburo denounced business approaches which led to neijuan and its associated stresses. This year several big companies have introduced measures aimed at limiting time spent at work.

But Chinese media still love a good story of absurdly hard toil. The internet has been flooded recently by one such tale concerning a bricklayer called He Jilin, who reportedly managed to save 2m yuan ($275,000) after nine years of work. Several tabloids described how Mr He used this money to build a two-storey mansion for his family in a village in Sichuan province. Since mid-April, when news of Mr He’s story broke, posts with related hashtags on Weibo, a microblog platform, have attracted tens of millions of views and thousands of comments.

.css-1dmm17z{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;container-name:onward-articles;container-type:inline-size;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;margin:2.188rem 0;}.css-1dmm17z a>span,.css-1dmm17z a:has(> span:first-child + span){margin-top:0;}.css-1dmm17z ul{margin-top:var(—mb-spacing-md);}.css-1dmm17z h2{font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-label-3-size);font-variant:var(—mb-typestyle-label-3-figures);line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-label-3-leading);}@container onward-articles (min-width:37.5rem) and (max-width:80rem){.e11c7tvl0 .e1kb1ha80{float:none;margin:0;padding:0;width:100%;}.e11c7tvl0 .e1kb1ha80 +.exn4l0u0{margin-top:0.5rem;}.ejvhmuq0:has(.e11c7tvl0){display:grid;grid-gap:var(—mb-responsive-grid-gutter);grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);}.ejvhmuq0:has(.e11c7tvl0) li{border:0;padding-bottom:0;}.ejvhmuq0:has(.e11c7tvl0) li+li{margin-top:0;}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-1dmm17z{—total-columns:6;—total-gutters:calc(var(—total-columns) — 1);—component-columns:3;—component-gutters:calc(var(—component-columns) — 1);—offset:1;—width-per-gutter:var(—mb-responsive-grid-gutter);—remaining-column-space:calc( 100% — (var(—total-gutters) * var(—width-per-gutter)) );—width-per-column:calc( var(—remaining-column-space) / var(—total-columns) );—component-offset-left:calc( ( (var(—width-per-column) * var(—offset)) + (var(—width-per-gutter) * var(—offset)) ) * -1 );—component-total-width:calc( (var(—width-per-column) * var(—component-columns)) + (var(—width-per-gutter) * var(—component-gutters)) );float:left;margin-left:var(—component-offset-left);margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-bottom:1.656rem;padding-right:2.125rem;padding-top:1.375rem;width:var(—component-total-width);}}@media (min-width: 89rem){.css-1dmm17z{—total-columns:8;—component-columns:4;—offset:2;}}

More from World

.css-14gnxf6 li{border-bottom:var(—mb-border-standard);padding-bottom:1rem;}.css-14gnxf6 li+li{margin-top:1rem;}.css-14gnxf6 li:last-child{border-bottom:0;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:0.5rem;}

• .css-1pzuujh{position:relative;width:100%;margin-top:0;overflow:hidden;}.e1ns5z760 .css-1pzuujh{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}@media (min-width: 22.5rem){.e1ns5z760 .css-1pzuujh{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.e1ns5z760 .css-1pzuujh{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}}@media (min-width: 60rem){.e1ns5z760 .css-1pzuujh{margin-top:-0.25rem;margin-bottom:0;}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.e1ns5z760 .css-1pzuujh{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}}.css-erxzxh{position:relative;margin:0.25rem 0 0 1.5rem;padding:0;float:right;width:33%;}.css-erxzxh img{display:block;}.css-erxzxh svg{bottom:0;display:block;left:0;position:absolute;width:15%;}.css-erxzxh+.exn4l0u0{margin-top:0;}.css-erxzxh+.esjbanf0{margin-top:0;}.css-erxzxh+.e1etum70{margin-top:0;}.css-szrzsg{font-family:var(—mb-typeface-serif);font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-title-1-size);font-variant:var(—mb-typestyle-title-1-figures);font-weight:500;line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-title-1-leading);}.css-szrzsg a{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);display:block;}.css-szrzsg a:hover,.css-szrzsg a:hover{color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-szrzsg a:focus,.css-szrzsg a:focus{background-color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-95);color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);outline:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-szrzsg a:active,.css-szrzsg a:active{color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);}.css-szrzsg a::before{bottom:0;content:»;display:block;left:0;opacity:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;right:0;text-indent:-999em;top:0;white-space:nowrap;z-index:1;}.css-szrzsg+.esimp700,.css-szrzsg+style+.esimp700{margin-top:0.25rem;}
  

  The men’s and women’s world snooker champions are now both Chinese

• 
  

  China intensifies its campaign against exiled Hong Kong dissidents

• 
  

  Trade tensions help Singapore’s prime minister to a big win

⇒All of our World coverage

While some netizens have attacked Mr Trump’s tariffs, others have heaped scorn on the story of Mr He’s struggles (working 5am to 9pm, with few days off, has left him with a chronic back injury). “Don’t romanticise others’ pain—they suffer not to inspire you, but because they had no choice,” said one user on Weibo, referring to Mr He’s case. “How many future million-yuan hospital bills are waiting for him?” wrote another. “Sounds like a made-up story designed to glorify labour until we drop dead,” a third weighed in. Mr He has responded modestly, telling media he regrets not having studied harder at school.

Mr Xi does not want Chinese youngsters to take up bricklaying in order to get rich. Speaking to the model workers, he said the country needed people who were “knowledgeable, skilled and innovative”. But he sticks to old-style rhetoric. Among Chinese “the spirit of hard work, unity and relentless striving will never change,” he said. While fighting America, Mr Xi may struggle to defeat cynicism at home. ■

Subscribers can sign up to Drum Tower, our new weekly newsletter, to understand what the world makes of China—and what China makes of the world.

.css-1h7zq19{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;margin:1.3125rem 0 2.1875rem 0;gap:var(—mb-spacing-sm);}@media (min-width: 60rem){.css-1h7zq19{-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;gap:var(—mb-spacing-sm);}}.css-1h7zq19 nav{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:wrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:var(—mb-spacing-sm);-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}.css-rb5rp6{font-family:var(—mb-typeface-sans);font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-title-1-size);font-style:normal;font-weight:var(—mb-font-weight-regular);line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-title-1-leading);font-variant:var(—mb-typestyle-title-1-figures);white-space:nowrap;-webkit-align-self:start;-ms-flex-item-align:start;align-self:start;}@media (min-width: 60rem){.css-rb5rp6{padding-top:var(—mb-spacing-2xs);}}

Explore more

WorldXi JinpingChina.css-2x8c4j{margin:0.875rem 0;}.css-2x8c4j .e12sz0jx0+*{margin-top:0.875rem;}.el1rg701+.css-2x8c4j{margin-top:0;}.css-1aogxph{color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-20);font-family:var(—mb-typeface-sans);font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-label-2-size);font-variant:var(—mb-typestyle-label-2-figures);line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-label-2-leading);}.css-1aogxph s,.css-1aogxph del{-webkit-text-decoration:line-through;text-decoration:line-through;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;}.css-1aogxph b{font-weight:var(—mb-font-weight-semibold);}.css-1aogxph i{font-style:italic;}.css-1aogxph sup{font-feature-settings:’sups’ 1;}.css-1aogxph sub{font-feature-settings:’subs’ 1;}.css-1aogxph u{text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;}.css-1aogxph a{color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-20);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-underline-offset:0.1875rem;}.css-1aogxph a:hover,.css-1aogxph a:focus,.css-1aogxph a:active{text-decoration-thickness:var(—mb-spacing-3xs);}.css-1aogxph a:hover{color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);}.css-1aogxph a:hover span{text-decoration-color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);}.css-1aogxph a:focus{background-color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-90);color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);text-decoration-color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);outline:none;}.css-1aogxph a:active{background-color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-90);color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);text-decoration-color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);}

This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Toil and struggle”

.css-1i1rou5 div>div:first-child{margin-left:var(—mb-spacing-lg);}.css-1i1rou5 ul>li:last-child{padding-bottom:0;border-bottom:0;}

China

May 10th 2025

• →China’s gig economy could help it survive the trade war 
• →Xi Jinping glorifies hard work, but the young are not so sure
• →China intensifies its campaign against exiled Hong Kong dissidents
• →The men’s and women’s world snooker champions are now both Chinese

.css-ra48xw{font-family:var(—mb-typeface-serif);position:relative;}.css-duuyjs{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:column;-ms-flex-pack:column;-webkit-justify-content:column;justify-content:column;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;text-align:center;-webkit-column-gap:var(—mb-spacing-lg);column-gap:var(—mb-spacing-lg);}.css-s61v3v{border-radius:0.125rem;box-shadow:-0.125rem 0.125rem 0.25rem 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.4);margin-bottom:0.75rem;min-width:10rem;max-width:12rem;}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-s61v3v{min-width:12rem;}}.css-s61v3v img{display:block;max-width:100%;}.css-std7t4{max-width:16rem;}.css-nba04v{color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);font-family:var(—mb-typeface-serif);font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-title-3-size);font-variant:var(—mb-typestyle-title-3-figures);font-weight:var(—mb-font-weight-medium);line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-title-3-leading);margin-bottom:0.25rem;}

From the May 10th 2025 edition

.css-exdolm{color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-body-1-size);font-variant:var(—mb-typestyle-body-1-figures);font-weight:var(—mb-font-weight-regular);line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-body-1-leading);margin-bottom:1.5rem;}

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

⇒Explore the edition.css-v7aorn{margin-top:0.875rem;}.css-v7aorn +.eq1asik0{margin-top:3rem;padding-bottom:0;}.el1rg701+.css-v7aorn{margin-top:0;}.css-9ejc71{position:relative;border-bottom:0;border-top:0.0625rem solid var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-35);}.css-9ejc71 .ebxshaw0{margin-top:0;}.css-9ejc71 >.e5z0ibw0>*{padding:var(—mb-spacing-md) 0;}.css-9ejc71 >.e5z0ibw0>*:nth-of-type(2){border-top:0.0625rem solid var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-9ejc71 >.e5z0ibw0>*:nth-of-type(2){border-top:0;}}.css-9ejc71 >.e5z0ibw0 .e5z0ibw0{gap:var(—mb-spacing-sm);}.css-yb4x8x{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-align-items:stretch;-webkit-box-align:stretch;-ms-flex-align:stretch;align-items:stretch;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-yb4x8x{-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;}}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-yb4x8x{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.css-yb4x8x{-webkit-box-pack:end;-ms-flex-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;justify-content:flex-end;}}.css-1j1j36d{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:wrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;row-gap:0.6rem;-webkit-column-gap:var(—mb-spacing-sm);column-gap:var(—mb-spacing-sm);}ShareReuse this content.css-169lzn0{position:relative;-webkit-align-self:auto;-ms-flex-item-align:auto;align-self:auto;display:none;}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-169lzn0{grid-column-start:9;}}@media (min-width: 89rem){.css-169lzn0{grid-column-start:13;}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-169lzn0{grid-column-end:13;}}@media (min-width: 89rem){.css-169lzn0{grid-column-end:17;}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-169lzn0{grid-row-start:1;}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-169lzn0{grid-row-end:span 4;}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-169lzn0{display:block;}}.css-169lzn0:last-child::after{height:0;}.css-1y1zooy{display:inline;}.css-1y1zooy >*+*{margin-top:2rem;}.css-1y1zooy >*:only-child{margin-top:1.25rem;}.css-1y1zooy >*:last-child{position:-webkit-sticky;position:sticky;top:1.5rem;}.css-z2cag9{margin-top:6rem;}

More from China

@media (min-width: 60rem){.css-into0e .e1a1lgff0 .e1a1lgff0:last-of-type{padding-bottom:1.5rem;}}@media (min-width: 60rem){.css-into0e .e1a1lgff0 .e1a1lgff0{padding-bottom:1.5rem;}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-into0e .e1a1lgff0 .e1a1lgff0{padding-bottom:0;}}@media (min-width: 60rem){.css-into0e .e1a1lgff0>hr+.e11c7tvl0:last-of-type{padding-bottom:1.5rem;}}@media (min-width: 60rem){.css-into0e .e1a1lgff0:nth-of-type(5){padding-bottom:1.5rem;}}.css-into0e .e3mhczn0 .e3mhczn0{margin-top:-0.25rem;}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-into0e .e1a1lgff0:nth-of-type(3) .e3mhczn0{margin-top:0;}}.css-114o6rp{display:grid;grid-auto-flow:row;grid-column-gap:var(—mb-responsive-grid-gutter);grid-row-gap:2.75rem;grid-auto-columns:1fr;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;max-width:89.5rem;overflow:hidden;position:relative;grid-row-gap:1.5rem;grid-template-areas:»group1″ «line» «group2» «line2» «group3″;}@media (min-width: 60rem){.css-114o6rp{grid-template:auto/repeat(12, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media (min-width: 60rem){.css-114o6rp{grid-template-areas:»group1 group1 group1 group1 group1 group1 group2 group2 group2 group2 group2 group2» «line line line line line line line line line line line line» «group3 group3 group3 group3 group3 group3 group3 group3 group3 group3 group3 group3″;}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-114o6rp{grid-template-areas:»group1 group1 group1 group1 group2 group2 group2 group2 group2 group3 group3 group3″;}}.css-1ae0vf1{grid-area:group1;position:relative;-webkit-align-self:auto;-ms-flex-item-align:auto;align-self:auto;}.css-1ae0vf1::after{background-color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);content:»;height:100%;position:absolute;right:-1rem;right:calc(-1 * var(—mb-responsive-grid-gap));top:0;width:1px;}.css-1ae0vf1:last-child::after{height:0;}.css-130z65j{position:relative;width:100%;margin-top:0;overflow:hidden;display:block;}.e1ns5z760 .css-130z65j{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}@media (min-width: 22.5rem){.e1ns5z760 .css-130z65j{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.e1ns5z760 .css-130z65j{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}}@media (min-width: 60rem){.e1ns5z760 .css-130z65j{margin-top:-0.25rem;margin-bottom:0;}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.e1ns5z760 .css-130z65j{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}}.css-h6gsp2{position:relative;float:none;width:100%;margin:0;padding:0;}.css-h6gsp2 img{display:block;}.css-h6gsp2 svg{bottom:0;display:block;left:0;position:absolute;width:15%;}.css-h6gsp2+.exn4l0u0{margin-top:0.5rem;}.css-h6gsp2+style+.exn4l0u0{margin-top:0.5rem;}.css-h6gsp2+.esjbanf0{margin-top:0.5rem;}.css-h6gsp2+style+.esjbanf0{margin-top:0.5rem;}.css-h6gsp2+.e1etum70{margin-top:0.5rem;}.css-h6gsp2+style+.e1etum70{margin-top:0.5rem;}.css-1awed3c{font-family:var(—mb-typeface-serif);font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-title-4-size);font-variant:var(—mb-typestyle-title-4-figures);font-weight:normal;line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-title-4-leading);}.css-1awed3c a{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);display:block;}.css-1awed3c a:hover,.css-1awed3c a:hover{color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1awed3c a:focus,.css-1awed3c a:focus{background-color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-95);color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);outline:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1awed3c a:active,.css-1awed3c a:active{color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);}.css-1awed3c a::before{bottom:0;content:»;display:block;left:0;opacity:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;right:0;text-indent:-999em;top:0;white-space:nowrap;z-index:1;}.css-1awed3c+.esimp700,.css-1awed3c+style+.esimp700{margin-top:0.5rem;}

The men’s and women’s world snooker champions are now both Chinese

.css-1p38euj{color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);font-family:var(—mb-typeface-serif);max-width:43.75rem;font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-body-1-size);font-variant:var(—mb-typestyle-body-1-figures);line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-body-1-leading);}

Another victory for a rising sports power

.css-7bgp91{grid-area:group2;position:relative;-webkit-align-self:auto;-ms-flex-item-align:auto;align-self:auto;}.css-7bgp91::after{background-color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);content:»;height:100%;position:absolute;right:-1rem;right:calc(-1 * var(—mb-responsive-grid-gap));top:0;width:1px;}.css-7bgp91:last-child::after{height:0;}.css-1tv71c4{position:relative;width:100%;margin-top:0;overflow:hidden;display:block;}.e1ns5z760 .css-1tv71c4{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}@media (min-width: 22.5rem){.e1ns5z760 .css-1tv71c4{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}}@media (min-width: 37.5rem){.e1ns5z760 .css-1tv71c4{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}}@media (min-width: 60rem){.e1ns5z760 .css-1tv71c4{margin-top:-0.25rem;margin-bottom:0;}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.e1ns5z760 .css-1tv71c4{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}}.css-1ip3mmp{position:relative;float:none;width:100%;margin:0;padding:0;}.css-1ip3mmp img{display:block;}.css-1ip3mmp svg{bottom:0;display:block;left:0;position:absolute;width:15%;}.css-1ip3mmp+.exn4l0u0{margin-top:0.5rem;}.css-1ip3mmp+style+.exn4l0u0{margin-top:0.5rem;}.css-1ip3mmp+.esjbanf0{margin-top:0.5rem;}.css-1ip3mmp+style+.esjbanf0{margin-top:0.5rem;}.css-1ip3mmp+.e1etum70{margin-top:0.5rem;}.css-1ip3mmp+style+.e1etum70{margin-top:0.5rem;}@media (min-width: 30rem){.css-1ip3mmp{margin:0.25rem 0 0 1.5rem;padding:0;float:right;width:33%;}.css-1ip3mmp+.exn4l0u0{margin-top:0;}.css-1ip3mmp+.esjbanf0{margin-top:0;}.css-1ip3mmp+.e1etum70{margin-top:0;}}.css-ayljkz{font-family:var(—mb-typeface-serif);font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-title-3-size);font-variant:var(—mb-typestyle-title-3-figures);font-weight:normal;line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-title-3-leading);}.css-ayljkz a{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);display:block;}.css-ayljkz a:hover,.css-ayljkz a:hover{color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-ayljkz a:focus,.css-ayljkz a:focus{background-color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-95);color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);outline:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-ayljkz a:active,.css-ayljkz a:active{color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);}.css-ayljkz a::before{bottom:0;content:»;display:block;left:0;opacity:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;right:0;text-indent:-999em;top:0;white-space:nowrap;z-index:1;}.css-ayljkz+.esimp700,.css-ayljkz+style+.esimp700{margin-top:0.5rem;}

China intensifies its campaign against exiled Hong Kong dissidents

Police in the territory are harassing the families of those who have fled

.css-1r8cil5{border-width:0;border-top:1px solid var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);margin:1.5rem 0;margin:1.5rem 0 1.25rem;width:100%;}

China’s gig economy could help it survive the trade war 

It is vast, and ready to absorb displaced workers

.css-18lex0d{font-family:var(—mb-typeface-serif);font-size:var(—mb-typestyle-title-2-size);font-variant:var(—mb-typestyle-title-2-figures);font-weight:500;line-height:var(—mb-typestyle-title-2-leading);}.css-18lex0d a{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);display:block;}.css-18lex0d a:hover,.css-18lex0d a:hover{color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-18lex0d a:focus,.css-18lex0d a:focus{background-color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-95);color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-5);outline:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-18lex0d a:active,.css-18lex0d a:active{color:var(—mb-colour-base-chicago-30);}.css-18lex0d a::before{bottom:0;content:»;display:block;left:0;opacity:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;right:0;text-indent:-999em;top:0;white-space:nowrap;z-index:1;}.css-18lex0d+.esimp700,.css-18lex0d+style+.esimp700{margin-top:0.25rem;}

Edible rats are China’s latest live-streaming stars

Cooking them on camera beats standing in a factory all day, and pays much better

.css-1rezuzl{grid-area:group3;position:relative;-webkit-align-self:auto;-ms-flex-item-align:auto;align-self:auto;}.css-1rezuzl::after{background-color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);content:»;height:100%;position:absolute;right:-1rem;right:calc(-1 * var(—mb-responsive-grid-gap));top:0;width:1px;}.css-1rezuzl:last-child::after{height:0;}.css-tlw2sg{display:grid;grid-auto-flow:row;grid-column-gap:var(—mb-responsive-grid-gutter);grid-row-gap:2.75rem;grid-auto-columns:1fr;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;max-width:89.5rem;overflow:hidden;position:relative;}@media (min-width: 60rem){.css-tlw2sg{grid-template:auto/repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-tlw2sg{grid-template:auto/repeat(1, minmax(0, 1fr));}}.css-1x3zx2o{position:relative;-webkit-align-self:auto;-ms-flex-item-align:auto;align-self:auto;}.css-1x3zx2o::after{background-color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);bottom:-1.5rem;content:»»;height:1px;position:absolute;left:0;width:calc(110% + var(—mb-responsive-grid-gap));}@media (min-width: 60rem){.css-1x3zx2o::before{background-color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);content:»»;height:100%;position:absolute;right:calc(-1 * var(—mb-responsive-grid-gap));top:0;width:1px;}.css-1x3zx2o::after{background-color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);bottom:-1.5rem;content:»»;height:1px;position:absolute;left:0;width:calc(110% + var(—mb-responsive-grid-gap));}}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-1x3zx2o::after{background-color:var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);bottom:-1.5rem;content:»»;height:1px;position:absolute;left:0;width:calc(110% + var(—mb-responsive-grid-gap));}}.css-1x3zx2o:last-child::after{height:0;}

Is China justified in still calling itself a developing country?

The reasons are more about self-image than money

American tariffs are starting to hammer Chinese exporters

But plenty of firms believe that the levies will not last

.css-15mtz82{border-width:0;border-top:1px solid var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);grid-area:line;margin:0;margin:1.5rem 0 1.25rem;margin:0;width:100%;display:block;}@media (min-width: 80rem){.css-15mtz82{display:none;}}.css-kph0pz{border-width:0;border-top:1px solid var(—mb-colour-greyscale-london-85);grid-area:line2;margin:0;margin:1.5rem 0 1.25rem;margin:0;width:100%;display:block;}@media (min-width: 60rem){.css-kph0pz{display:none;}}

Источник: www.economist.com