China's 'Basic Plate' Becomes a Mocking Term for Patriots; Officials Criticize External Cognitive Warfare
The Propaganda Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China criticized an article today, stating that the term "basic plate" has been stigmatized on Chinese social media and used to demean patriots. They view this as part of an "external cognitive warfare" designed to dismantle national identity.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 16:54
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Central News Agency (Shanghai, May 13) – "Zhejiang Propaganda," an outlet under the Propaganda Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, today published an article stating that the term "basic plate," which has recently become popular on Chinese social media, has been stigmatized. It is often used to disparage those with patriotic sentiments, harboring motives to deconstruct national identity, and is part of an "external cognitive warfare."
"Zhejiang Propaganda," a WeChat public account under the Propaganda Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee, published an article today titled "'Basic Plate' Should Not Be an Object of Ridicule." It noted that recently on social media, whenever different opinions are encountered, especially those with patriotic tendencies, phrases like "You are the basic plate" and "There are quite a few basic plates" are frequently thrown around.
The article states, "The stigmatization of the basic plate not only contains the motive of labeling and venting online emotions but also hides the sinister tactic of deconstructing national identity and dissolving social consensus, which should be taken seriously."
The term "basic plate" originally was a financial term referring to the basic trend of the stock market. Recently, it has gradually developed other meanings on the Chinese internet, specifically referring to people who identify with the CCP's official patriotic narrative.
The article noted that in the Chinese online public opinion sphere, once a discussion reaches an impasse and some people are unwilling to present facts and reasoning, they will blurt out, "The basic plate won again," as if by labeling the opponent, they can be relegated to the camp of "non-independent thinkers," thereby demonstrating their own "sobriety."
The article also mentioned that some people deliberately belittle the broad masses of ordinary people who hold patriotic sentiments and acknowledge the country's development achievements as "low cognition" and "blindly obedient." Whenever content introduces China's development and progress, comments sections often see ridicule like "another group of basic plates."
This phenomenon can also be seen in brand choices, the article pointed out. If consumers express recognition for domestic brands, some people might label them with terms like "basic plate consumption" to disparage them. Watching American dramas is considered aesthetically high-end, while watching domestic dramas might be ridiculed in comments as "basic plate aesthetics."
The article criticized this as "a defense of a fawning foreign mentality," "a backflow of external cognitive warfare," and "a harvesting tactic for traffic manipulation."
The article stated that the basic plate should not be a derogatory term because everyone is "both their own basic plate and the basic plate of national development." Loving one's life and caring about national development is not a sin but something to be proud of. "A stable basic plate is the most solid ballast for national development."
The article concludes that from the binary opposition discussion of "Apple people" versus "Android people" to the stigmatization of the "basic plate," attacks on patriotic groups have not ceased online. "Their intention is very clear: to completely pit individuals against national development, weakening netizens' patriotic enthusiasm and consensus." (Editor: Chiu Kuo-chiang) 20260513
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"Zhejiang Propaganda," a WeChat public account under the Propaganda Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee, published an article today titled "'Basic Plate' Should Not Be an Object of Ridicule." It noted that recently on social media, whenever different opinions are encountered, especially those with patriotic tendencies, phrases like "You are the basic plate" and "There are quite a few basic plates" are frequently thrown around.
The article states, "The stigmatization of the basic plate not only contains the motive of labeling and venting online emotions but also hides the sinister tactic of deconstructing national identity and dissolving social consensus, which should be taken seriously."
The term "basic plate" originally was a financial term referring to the basic trend of the stock market. Recently, it has gradually developed other meanings on the Chinese internet, specifically referring to people who identify with the CCP's official patriotic narrative.
The article noted that in the Chinese online public opinion sphere, once a discussion reaches an impasse and some people are unwilling to present facts and reasoning, they will blurt out, "The basic plate won again," as if by labeling the opponent, they can be relegated to the camp of "non-independent thinkers," thereby demonstrating their own "sobriety."
The article also mentioned that some people deliberately belittle the broad masses of ordinary people who hold patriotic sentiments and acknowledge the country's development achievements as "low cognition" and "blindly obedient." Whenever content introduces China's development and progress, comments sections often see ridicule like "another group of basic plates."
This phenomenon can also be seen in brand choices, the article pointed out. If consumers express recognition for domestic brands, some people might label them with terms like "basic plate consumption" to disparage them. Watching American dramas is considered aesthetically high-end, while watching domestic dramas might be ridiculed in comments as "basic plate aesthetics."
The article criticized this as "a defense of a fawning foreign mentality," "a backflow of external cognitive warfare," and "a harvesting tactic for traffic manipulation."
The article stated that the basic plate should not be a derogatory term because everyone is "both their own basic plate and the basic plate of national development." Loving one's life and caring about national development is not a sin but something to be proud of. "A stable basic plate is the most solid ballast for national development."
The article concludes that from the binary opposition discussion of "Apple people" versus "Android people" to the stigmatization of the "basic plate," attacks on patriotic groups have not ceased online. "Their intention is very clear: to completely pit individuals against national development, weakening netizens' patriotic enthusiasm and consensus." (Editor: Chiu Kuo-chiang) 20260513
Choose to stand with the truth. Your every sponsorship is a force guarding press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.