Corruption gets a cartoon rap: Chinese propaganda spins lyrics on Xi Jinping’s reforms
Video is the latest effort from Beijing to reach out to the smartphone generation
First it was a cartoon featuring top Communist Party leaders, then it was a music video about the five-year plan and now China’s propagandists have released a cartoon rap song about reform.
State-run CCTV released the cartoon rap on Saturday to mark the second anniversary of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms, a high-powered committee founded and headed by President Xi Jinping.
The cartoon extolled the group’s long list of achievements, ranging from market-oriented reforms and the anti-graft campaign to the yuan’s acceptance as an International Monetary Fund special drawing rights currency and efforts to fight smog.
“The group is two years old; it has done quite a lot. Tigers, flies, big foxes, CATCH CATCH CATCH CATCH!” the song goes.
The line is followed by a sound bite from Xi urging: “All corruption must be punished. Every corrupt official must be prosecuted.”
The leading group has spearheaded Xi’s signature reform programme which has been the centrepiece of his first term as president and party general secretary.
The group defines policy on issues such as reform of the economy, legal system and state-owned enterprises and the anti-corruption campaign.
READ MORE: ‘Hey, you guys heard what’s going on in China?’ Beijing propaganda machine’s animated video promotes five-year plan
The cartoon is the latest tactic in Beijing’s propaganda effort to reach to a generation that communicates via smartphones and “like” buttons.
Beijing released another music video in English in October to draw attention to the latest five-year plan. Backed by an acoustic guitar, four cartoon characters with American accents sang about the plan as they stood on top of a retro Volkswagen van.
Since Xi rose to power in 2012, Beijing has attached greater importance to propaganda online, and has adopted new tactics.
He underlined the message at the first meeting of the Central Leading Group of Internet Security and Informatisation in February last year, calling for “innovating and improving propaganda online”. Without internet security, there is no state security, he added.
Below are the lyrics to the rap cartoon:
“The Reform Group is Two Years Old”
The Reform Group is Two Years Old
2015
Gotta eye the reform group in 2015
[It] pushes economic development and a wealthier society
[It] improves [government] services
[Must] streamline the administration and delegate power to lower levels
[Must] believe in the government
Let hands that should not move stay unmoved, let the market rule
They insist on fighting corruption
They specialise in hitting tigers
Rule the party strictly
Govern the country by law
[The whole country] is overwhelmed with joy
Unfold the three stricts and three honests
Let the people supervise
Put a tight lid on corrupt officials who put out their hands recklessly
The reform group is two years old, it has done quite a lot
Change the education system, change the medical system, change the household registration system, CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE!
Help the people, benefit the people, don’t tire people
Fight poverty with precision
[Xi’s sound bite] Let the people’s wishes become our action
The reform group is two years old, it has done quite a lot
Change the pricing system, change taxes, change SOEs, CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE!
Streamline the administration and delegate power to lower levels, unleash energy
Reform the supply side [economy] and upgrade the economy
[Xi’s sound bite] An arrow will never return once it’s shot by a bow
The reform group is two years old, it has done quite a lot
Flies, tigers, big foxes, CATCH CATCH CATCH CATCH!
To rule the party strictly we must harden our bodies, the judicial reform must be victorious
[Xi’s sound bite] All corruption must be punished. Every corrupt official must be prosecuted
The reform group is two years old, it has done quite a lot
Cure the water, cure the air, cure the land, CURE CURE CURE CURE!
Clear water and lush mountains equals a mountain of gold
This is what is we must do on “One Belt, One Road”
[Xi’s sound bite] The principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.
Push progress in Asia and Europe
It’s name is “One Belt, One Road”
Free-trade [zone] opened, mutual help on law and finance
Founding of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, accelerating the building of infrastructure
The yuan admitted to SDR
They hate smog to the bone
To preserve ecology, [they are] determined to open the bow
Shut down the ones that are supposed to be shut down
Suspend those who are supposed to be suspended
With clear water and lush mountains, a new march can start
The reform group is two years old, it has done quite a lot
Change the pricing system, change taxes, change SOEs, CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE!
Help the people, benefit the people, don’t tire people
Fight poverty with precision
[Xi] Let the people’s wish become our action
The reform group is two years old, it has done quite a lot
Change the pricing system, change taxes, change SOEs, CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE!
Streamline the administration and delegate power to lower levels and unleash energy
Reform the supply side [economy] and upgrade the economy
[Xi] only the daring will prevail at key stages of reform
The reform group is two years old, it has done quite a lot
Flies, tigers, big foxes, CATCH CATCH CATCH CATCH!
To rule the party strictly we must harden our bodies, the judicial reform must be victorious
[Xi] Hold the sword to fight corruption high
The reform group is two years old, it has done quite a lot
Cure the water, cure the air, cure the land, CURE CURE CURE CURE!
Clear water and lush mountains equals a mountain of gold
This is what is we must do on “One Belt, One Road”
[Xi] It’s not closed, but open and tolerant
