bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Yanping Gao

China is an enigma to many foreigner observers who fail to understand its unique history, culture and political system. As a result, it is all too easy for them to make false judgments about the country’s policy direction.
The Chinese government has made a huge commitment to common prosperity, prioritising it since 2021, and it may take decades to achieve. Three points need to be clarified to foster a better understanding of what China’s goal of common prosperity really means.
Many overseas critics see China from an outdated perspective, leading them to oversimplify the concept and crudely define it as telling the rich to share their wealth with the rest of the country.
In the 1950s, the Communist Party nationalised private enterprises and assets in order to build a socialist country.
The historical echo from those times may have contributed to the misunderstanding of China’s common prosperity push, even though in the reform era since 1978, non-state-owned sectors have been encouraged and have played a big role in China’s growth.
Thus, many foreign commentators have conflated China’s recent regulation of internet giants, which is a completely separate issue, with the goal of common prosperity and misrepresented the tension between entrepreneurs and the government.


The Economist, for example, said in October 2021 that, “Deng Xiaoping, one of Mr Xi’s predecessors, famously said that he did not care if cats were white or black as long as they caught mice. Mr Xi’s main opinion about cats is that he does not like them fat.”
In fact, governments around the world grapple with regulation of internet giants and enforcement of antitrust laws. China’s internet giants have been described as spoiled playground bullies for unfair practices such as forcing small businesses to pick one of the two major platforms.
The clampdown on them is about ensuring fair competition and sustainable growth, and has no connection with the much broader goal of common prosperity.
How Big Tech crackdowns in US, China are driving technological decoupling
Also, while officials encourage charitable giving – which is referred to in China as the third or tertiary distribution of income – such donations and contributions are voluntary. This simply reflects the government’s effort to improve the distribution system.
Common prosperity is not a new concept. In fact, the Communist Party is merely inheriting and continuing a historical mission. Some foreign critics have taken Deng’s theory of “get rich first” out of context, thereby cutting the historical link of Xi’s policy with that of his predecessors.
These are the commentators who say the new focus on common prosperity marks a significant policy shift, or that Xi is returning to more socialist principles.


On the contrary, the Communist Party has been consistent in its pursuit of common prosperity.
“Common prosperity and socialism have never disappeared from the Chinese Communist Party’s official statements,” Cao Jinqing, a sociologist who worked at East China University of Science and Technology in Shanghai told me.
The term “common prosperity” made its first appearance in a party document on agricultural production co-operatives in 1953. Aiming to improve agricultural productivity, Mao Zedong said the party should organise peasants using socialist rural reform, shifting from small-scale private production to mass collective production so that peasants can gradually eliminate poverty and achieve common prosperity.
Middle-class nation: how China is rising to the common prosperity challenge
After Deng took power in the late 1970s, he led the Chinese people in blazing a new trail in socialism with Chinese characteristics. To boost economic development, he took a step-by-step approach towards achieving common prosperity.
He envisioned allowing some people and regions to get rich first, then letting these regions help the others gradually achieve prosperity.
Millions of Chinese have got rich first over the past 40 years. Yet, income disparity has also grown in tandem, a significant worry both to the party and the people.


Thus, Xi’s mission now is to achieve the ultimate goal of common prosperity – helping those who are lagging behind to share in China’s growing prosperity.
Income disparity poses a widespread challenge to China and many other countries, including developed economies. The party has pledged to deal with it, not just because it is political commitment, but also because common prosperity is an aspiration of the vast majority of the Chinese people.
Last year, the Chinese language version of BBC News quoted a British politician as saying, “The only thing that the Communist Party of China fears is Chinese people. Not the US or the UK, but just Chinese people.” This has become something of a joke on Chinese social media. But the quote contains a grain of truth about the relationship between the Chinese people and the party.
China according to the collapsists, declinists and triumphalists
In some countries, the solution to a social crisis could be a change of leadership through an election.
In China, where people’s satisfaction is the top priority under the leadership of the Communist Party, the sole ruling party, the outcome of a societal crisis could be the collapse of the government, and even the party, if social tensions get out of control.
The Communist Party has clearly realised that income inequality could be a driving force for such a crisis and undermine support for the regime as a whole.
According to Cao, “Historically, in the last century, successive revolutions in China were all related to the equalisation of wealth.”
Beijing is walking a fine line. “It is a mission with which the Chinese Communist Party can win support from the people,” Cao said. “It is also another test of the party’s governance: to neither demoralise the rich, nor encourage laziness.”
Yanping Gao is a researcher at Maku Insights think tank and co-author of the book “Why China Again”. Lilian Zhang, a researcher at Maku Insights, also contributed to this article


China’s push for common prosperity has been misunderstood by the rest of world

Illustration: Craig Stephens

Opinion

Comment


Foreign commentators who say Beijing’s focus on common prosperity marks a policy shift are wrong
Many have taken Deng Xiaoping’s theory of ‘get rich first’ out of context, thereby cutting the historical link of Xi Jinping’s policy with that of his predecessors



Foreign commentators who say Beijing’s focus on common prosperity marks a policy shift are wrong. Many have taken Deng Xiaoping’s theory of “get rich first” out of context, thereby cutting the historical link of Xi Jinping’s policy with that of his predecessors.


China leadership

China technology

China’s Communist Party

China economy

Xi Jinping’s poverty alleviation campaign

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Opinion | China’s push for common prosperity has been misunderstood by the rest of world

Foreign commentators who say Beijing’s focus on common prosperity marks a policy shift are wrong Many have taken Deng Xiaoping’s theory of ‘get rich first’ out of context, thereby cutting the historical link of Xi Jinping’s policy with that of his predecessors

Foreign commentators who say Beijing’s focus on common prosperity marks a policy shift are wrong

Many have taken Deng Xiaoping’s theory of ‘get rich first’ out of context, thereby cutting the historical link of Xi Jinping’s policy with that of his predecessors