The Audio Long Read From the archive: China’s troll king: how a tabloid editor became the voice of Chinese nationalism
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Mar 4, 2026 A deep dive into a tabloid editor who helped shape a chest-thumping nationalist style in Chinese media. Stories include his role in high-profile censorship moments and how he crafted a combative, populist voice online. The piece traces his rise from military reporting to running a provocative nationalistic newspaper and how state media tactics shifted under tighter controls.
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Peng Shuai Case And Hu's Public Intervention
- Peng Shuai's Weibo accusation vanished within minutes and Peng then disappeared from public view, prompting global concern.
- Hu Xijin posted that he had confirmed Peng was alive and shared state-shot videos, which many outside China found stage-managed.
Reframing Scandals As Anti China Bias
- Hu Xijin reframes scandals as proof of Western bias, turning allegations into ideological attacks against critics.
- This combative reframe matches a broader shift to confident, aggressive Chinese state messaging under Xi Jinping.
Hu As Voice Of Aggressive Nationalism
- Hu became the most visible exponent of a chest-thumping nationalist media style, likened to China's Fox News.
- His insults and confrontational tweets reach millions and are copied by wolf warrior diplomats and party outlets.