A new book from Emily Feng asks what it means to be Chinese in Xi Jinping's China

The Complexity of Chinese Identity

The discussion centers on the evolving conception of Chinese identity under Xi Jinping, emphasizing the government's tendency to define the ideal citizen as ethnically Han, while sidelining the rich diversity of China's 55 other ethnic groups. Emily Feng points out that, as she reported in China, the state adopted increasingly rigid views about identity, based on loyalty to the Communist Party and compliance with cultural norms, constraining the acknowledgment of diverse backgrounds. This narrative is illuminated through the experiences of individuals like the Hui Muslim community, who, despite their major presence in trading and academia, grapple with their dual identity amidst governmental suspicion. The complexities of identity in modern China become critical, as the emphasis on a singular ethnic narrative not only influences socio-political dynamics but shapes the way different groups view themselves and each other within the nation.