Sinologist Sebastian Veg notes shrinking space for personal criticism of China's leaders

Sinologist Sebastian Veg, author of Minjian. The Rise of China’s Grassroots Intellectuals, has observed a significant contraction of space for personal criticism against China's top leadership. In an interview, Veg explained that the social and intellectual landscape preceding Xi Jinping's ascent to power in 2012 featured limited but present avenues for critical discourse within sectors such as journalism and academia, particularly from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. However, Veg now states that "in China, there is no longer any space for personal questioning of high-ranking leaders," indicating a shift in the political and intellectual environment under the current administration.

Sources: Le Monde