Post-90s generation patriotic, opposes Western prejudice against China

A study shows that a majority of China’s post-1990 generation, or 190 million people, is “confidently patriotic” and “upset about Western’s prejudice against the country”.

Ninety percent of the young generation, aged between 18 and 27, are strongly patriotic, according to a research conducted by Deng Xiquan, director of the China Youth and Children Research Center's Youth Research Institute.

Compared with previous generations, post-80s and post-90s were brought up in a time when the country was prosperous and peaceful, and thus have more opportunity to “explore abroad”, and “the more they go overseas the more they love their country”, said the survey which tracked records and data of many years.

Deng categorized the patriotism held by the young generation as “confident patriotism”.

Moreover, 70 percent of the post-90s think “Western countries always use double standards to blame China”, and around 80 percent believe that “China will become better and better without having to adopt the Western Systems”.

Young patriots are not unique to China, instead it is a global phenomenon such as “Trump fans” in the United States and “cool Japan” in Japan, said Wang Hongzhe, associate professor of School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University.

In another survey, the People’s Daily Overseas Edition interviewed 10 people born between 1990 and 1999. Among them, six are newcomers to the workplace, including civil servants, private company employees, and entrepreneurs.

“A strong country is a prerequisite for individual development. I believe China will become stronger and stronger, and more rural children will have the opportunity to go to cities to explore,” said ChenJie, an 18-year-old law student from Datong University in North China’s Shanxi province.

“I am convinced that China will achieve better progress,” said Lin Caibiao, founder of Wuhu Cultural and Creative Company. The advertisement the company created for McDonald’s was viewed over 300 million times during the Spring Festival. Lin said 10 years ago he needed couple of transfers to reach home, but now it only takes few hours by high-speed rail.

What's more, these young people are also trying to strike a balance between self-actualization and pressure resistance. “I need to learn how to get along with farmers, so as to know China more comprehensively,” said Zhang Zhexi, a civil servant who plans to work at the community level.

“Reading can enrich our spiritual world, satisfy our curiosity, and inspire our imagination. I hope I can write some touching stories in the future,” said Zhao Anqi, a private enterprise employee and writer.