China Implements Special Measures to Crack Down on Promotion of Extreme Feminism, Including Non-Marriage and Non-Childbirth

To mark the Spring Festival (Seol), the largest holiday in China, the Chinese Communist Party and government will crack down on activities that foster negative perceptions about marriage and childbirth online or incite extreme feminism to provoke gender conflicts.

Spring Festival scenes in Linyi City, Shandong Province, China. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

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On the 19th, the General Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party announced through a website notice that "to create a joyful and harmonious internet atmosphere during the Spring Festival, a special campaign called 'Qinglang·2025 Spring Festival Internet Environment Cleanup' will be implemented for one month starting from this day." The office stated that this crackdown will focus on rectifying six types of behaviors: 'inciting extreme confrontation,' 'creating and spreading false information,' 'promoting vulgar and bad customs,' 'encouraging unhealthy culture,' 'inducing illegal activities,' and 'infringing on consumer rights.'

Specific examples of key crackdown targets were also presented.

Examples of 'inciting extreme confrontation' include deliberately advocating and inciting opinions against marriage and childbirth or choosing not to marry or have children. Acts that incite extreme feminism to provoke gender conflicts are also subject to regulation. Other examples include acts that slander Spring Festival customs and traditional Chinese practices, promote regional discrimination, and encourage violent tendencies.

Recently, China is facing a serious population decline, with the number of deaths surpassing births. In particular, the trend of avoiding marriage and childbirth has intensified, making low birth rates a new social issue. In response, the Chinese Communist Party is emphasizing the importance of harmonious families and supporting the idea that women should be devoted to their families. Recently, major foreign media reported that local Chinese governments are making direct phone calls to married women of childbearing age to inquire about pregnancy plans and promising cash incentives, showing a full-scale effort to encourage childbirth.

Additionally, examples of 'creating and spreading false information' include fabricating content disguised as specific groups such as food delivery workers or couriers in the form of hometown experiences or year-end summaries, as well as spreading false information about public policies and the livelihood economy. This is interpreted as an attempt to crack down on criticism of China’s current economic situation.

Other crackdown targets include acts that promote 'vulgar and bad customs,' such as encouraging binge eating and excessive drinking through 'mukbang challenges' or 'excessive drinking tests,' acts that foster 'unhealthy culture' such as flaunting luxury and wealth, and promoting superstition under the pretext of feng shui or fortune-telling or providing paid fortune-telling services.

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