China's Ministry of State Security Claims 'Overseas Organizations' Fund 'Lying Flat' Brainwashing
China's Ministry of State Security announced that certain overseas organizations are funding various media, think tanks, and influencers to produce a large number of "lying flat" videos, spreading negative ideas like "effort is useless," systematically engaging in "lying flat brainwashing," and shaking the foundation of social values.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 11:48
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 12:01 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 12:11 (10 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Liao Wen-chi, Taipei, 28th) China's Ministry of State Security pointed out that "a certain overseas organization" is funding various media, think tanks, and internet celebrities to produce a large number of "lying flat" videos, spreading negative concepts such as "effort is useless," systematically carrying out "lying flat brainwashing," and shaking the foundation of social values.
Beijing Youth Daily's new media "Zhengzhijian" reported that the Ministry of State Security article pointed out that in recent years, "overseas anti-China hostile forces" have used online platforms to deliberately amplify social anxiety, distort the interpretation of development problems, and continuously promote negative concepts such as "effort is useless" and "struggle leads to disadvantage." They attempt to create negative emotions, elevate individual predicaments to group opposition, and subtly mislead and coerce youth, thereby eroding the fighting spirit of Chinese youth and even shaking the foundation of social values.
The article states that numerous cases show that "anti-China hostile forces" are raising the banner of "lying flat" and eroding the thoughts of Chinese youth. China's national security agencies have discovered that a certain overseas organization funds various anti-China media and think tanks, fabricating narratives such as "struggle equals exploitation" and "class solidification equals effort is useless." Another overseas organization vigorously funds "lying flat influencers," producing a large number of short videos like "lying flat is justice" and "anti-involution equals anti-exploitation," systematically carrying out "lying flat brainwashing."
The article points out that while instigating "lying flat," relevant countries have launched a series of economic bills, revitalization projects, and talent programs, even recruiting global talent with high salaries. "It can be seen that they never approve of lying flat; they only hope that our youth lie flat, so that our development dividends, strategic opportunities, and national future are handed over."
The term "lying flat" (躺平) began to trend on the Chinese internet around 2021. "Lying flat ideology" advocates "not buying a house, not buying a car, not getting married, not having children, and not consuming," and "maintaining a minimum standard of living, refusing to be a machine for others to make money and a slave to be exploited." Chinese officials have repeatedly cracked down on related remarks.
Today, China's involution problem is serious, and youth unemployment is high. Even after the National Bureau of Statistics adjusted its age-group unemployment statistics from December 2023, the latest data for March still showed China's youth unemployment rate reached 16.9%, a new four-month high; the national urban surveyed unemployment rate was 5.4%, also the highest since March 2025, indicating a gradual deterioration of the overall unemployment problem. (Editor: Chen Kai-yu) 1150428
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(Central News Agency reporter Liao Wen-chi, Taipei, 28th) China's Ministry of State Security pointed out that "a certain overseas organization" is funding various media, think tanks, and internet celebrities to produce a large number of "lying flat" videos, spreading negative concepts such as "effort is useless," systematically carrying out "lying flat brainwashing," and shaking the foundation of social values.
Beijing Youth Daily's new media "Zhengzhijian" reported that the Ministry of State Security article pointed out that in recent years, "overseas anti-China hostile forces" have used online platforms to deliberately amplify social anxiety, distort the interpretation of development problems, and continuously promote negative concepts such as "effort is useless" and "struggle leads to disadvantage." They attempt to create negative emotions, elevate individual predicaments to group opposition, and subtly mislead and coerce youth, thereby eroding the fighting spirit of Chinese youth and even shaking the foundation of social values.
The article states that numerous cases show that "anti-China hostile forces" are raising the banner of "lying flat" and eroding the thoughts of Chinese youth. China's national security agencies have discovered that a certain overseas organization funds various anti-China media and think tanks, fabricating narratives such as "struggle equals exploitation" and "class solidification equals effort is useless." Another overseas organization vigorously funds "lying flat influencers," producing a large number of short videos like "lying flat is justice" and "anti-involution equals anti-exploitation," systematically carrying out "lying flat brainwashing."
The article points out that while instigating "lying flat," relevant countries have launched a series of economic bills, revitalization projects, and talent programs, even recruiting global talent with high salaries. "It can be seen that they never approve of lying flat; they only hope that our youth lie flat, so that our development dividends, strategic opportunities, and national future are handed over."
The term "lying flat" (躺平) began to trend on the Chinese internet around 2021. "Lying flat ideology" advocates "not buying a house, not buying a car, not getting married, not having children, and not consuming," and "maintaining a minimum standard of living, refusing to be a machine for others to make money and a slave to be exploited." Chinese officials have repeatedly cracked down on related remarks.
Today, China's involution problem is serious, and youth unemployment is high. Even after the National Bureau of Statistics adjusted its age-group unemployment statistics from December 2023, the latest data for March still showed China's youth unemployment rate reached 16.9%, a new four-month high; the national urban surveyed unemployment rate was 5.4%, also the highest since March 2025, indicating a gradual deterioration of the overall unemployment problem. (Editor: Chen Kai-yu) 1150428
Choose to stand with facts. Your every sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to grasp the latest news in real-time.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.