The Mad Dog

China has become a global superpower over the course of the last fifty years, the economy racing past every other national economy to race alongside the United States. However, China's speedy progress and boom into every available market across the globe hasn't been without controversy. China is a country ruled under the CCP - the Chinese Communist Party. Communism is an unpopular political and economic system, often regarded as being the left-wing counterpart to fascism. Historical examples like the former Soviet Union (USSR) show communism as being a failure which led to lower standards of living, government corruption, and particularly, actively prevented its citizens from freedom of speech and expression.

China is no different in this aspect. China has notoriously oppressive censorship across the whole country. China has censored every aspect of the Internet within its own borders, including some of the most popular websites in the world, like Facebook and Twitter. So how do people communicate online in China?

Weibo is one of the very few social media platforms available inside China. Weibo is akin to Facebook or Twitter and has been one of the major platforms utilised by Chinese citizens. However, the reason it is welcome in China is because the app is subject to heavy censorships, and the government has the power to control what you do and do not post. China's use and abuse of social media and censorship together is an easy way to silence its citizens, but that doesn't necessarily mean that citizens don't speak out or express controversial views either. Someone who has become famous for his bold use of social media, and hands-on methods to voicing his beliefs, is Xu Xiaodong.

Xiaodong, also nicknamed "Mad Dog" for his brash fighting style, is a Chinese mixed martial arts instructor who has been relentlessly pursued by the Chinese authorities. Xiaodong rose to prominence by publicly exposing fraudulent masters of Chinese martial arts, such as tai chi and kung fu. Many masters make unrealistic claims about their capabilities, and Xiaodong set out on a career to prove that their abilities were nothing more than fiction. He used the social media platform Weibo to goad masters into having fights with him to actually prove their claims in a real brawl. Popular YouTuber Count Dankula outlined a comprehensive history of Xiaodong's social media provocation in a video.

However, Xiaodong's criticisms of the martial arts industry is not what drew attention to his career from outside China. Xiaodong has been subject to criminal prosecution, social ostracization and heavy censorship by the CCP. This is because his open criticism of fraudulent martial arts masters is considered to be an attack on Chinese culture and history. After attempting to provoke a tai chi master named Chen Xiaowang, Xiaodong was not only forced to pay a fine, but was court ordered to apologise to Xiaowang on all his social media for seven consecutive days. This is an example of compelled speech - being forced to say something against your will for fear of dire consequences. This would be a violation of free speech in a country which maintains those rights.

Xiaodong's refusal to apologise also led to him being penalised by China's notorious social credit system. The social credit system in China is a method by which the government can control its citizens more effectively. Having a low social credit score acts as a form of punishment for "bad citizens" by preventing them from sharing the same rights as "good citizens". Xiaodong having his credit score lowered meant he was not allowed to use efficient public transport or to purchase aeroplane tickets, as well as having his right to own real estate revoked as an example.

China uses these nefarious methods to persecute any Chinese citizens who may upset the delicate status quo that the CCP has implemented. This is a huge violation of human rights, in my opinion, as Chinese citizens are actively prevented from an ability to speak freely or to openly express themselves.

Despite his mistreatment and censorship, Xiaodong has not given up. He now speaks more openly and critically of the Chinese martial arts industry and the CCP itself, namely through his YouTube channel. Most of his fights have been uploaded to YouTube by Fight Commentary Breakdowns, where English subtitles are provided. The blame should not be on the average Chinese citizen for the way Xiaodong has been treated. The CCP has fostered an era of censorship, fear and control in its own citizens, where anyone who is willing to speak out about any lies and corruption is immediately shut down. This unfortunately, has led to citizens doing the work of the party, and Xiaodong has suffered significant social and physical altercations as a result of his bold criticisms.

Xiaodong is a shining example of a person who has been persecuted by this system, but in a recent comment on linked Count Dankula video, he says:

"I am Chinese and I love my country, my hometown, even though my country is very very sick right now... Believe me that most of the Chinese are very nice. Please keep putting your trust in my people."

To me, this exemplifies the reality that the Chinese people are a very separate entity to the

CCP and are the greatest victims of the oppressive regime. It also highlights the importance of rights to free speech and expression as a human right. In countries like the UK, where there are no rights to freedom of speech, places like China are images of what our futures may become if our right to free speech cannot be exercised. It is up to any and all readers to take a bold stance and defend freedom of speech to protect our abilities to criticise our own governments without fear of legal consequence.