Hong Kong Schools Teach Patriotism Under China’s New Law

In Hong Kong, schools are now required to teach patriotism and national education as part of a new law. This move is part of China’s effort to instill loyalty to the Communist Party among young children. The government has removed books with alternative viewpoints from libraries and made it illegal to commemorate the Tiananmen Square massacre. Schools are also criticized if they do not sing the national anthem enthusiastically enough.

China’s National Security Law aims to unify thoughts and build a strong country. Many parents in Hong Kong are considering leaving the city to avoid what they see as a brainwashing campaign. The Communist Youth League in China has 74.2 million members, and the government wants to control the thoughts of every child through what it calls ‘patriotic education.’

On October 24, 2023, the National People’s Congress passed the Patriotic Education Law, which mandates ideological education in all sectors of society. A professor from the China University of Political Science and Law said this law would enhance the daily practice of patriotic spirit. The law requires that patriotic education be part of the compulsory education system and continue at home.

China has also established more than 150 Red Army schools since 2007, where children learn about the country’s revolutionary history. Chairman Xi Jinping has called for young people to ‘inherit red genes’ and has emphasized socialist ideology. The new law also promotes ‘red tourism,’ encouraging visits to important sites in CCP history.

China has banned for-profit academic tutoring to ensure that government-regulated schools are the main form of education. The country has also introduced national defense education, teaching children as young as six to hold fake guns and perform military drills. The Ministry of National Defense aims to instill patriotism and respect for the military in students.

China tightly controls the internet, banning religious content and foreign news. The Cyberspace Administration of China views the internet as a battlefield for political stability and national security. The National Security Law, introduced in 2014, covers a wide range of areas, including political, territorial, military, and economic security.

Xi Jinping is using these methods to create a unified Chinese identity and prepare the population for potential conflicts, including a possible war with Taiwan. The government is also encouraging citizens to report potential espionage cases to the Ministry of State Security.

The similarities between China’s current policies and Nazi Germany’s propaganda efforts are striking. Both regimes aim to instill loyalty and obedience through education and control of information.