I am a Marxist in China

Orthodox Marxists in the Chinese internet community often view Russia and Iran as weak links in imperialism, rather than as anti-imperialist forces .However, in the view of Chinese Marxists, opposing the global hegemony of the United States takes precedence over opposing secondary imperialisms (Iran, Russia).

The person in the picture is Yang Heping, a US citizen with a Chinese green card, and he is the most popular orthodox Marxist-Leninist-Maoist self-media figure on the Chinese internet (with 3 million followers on Tiktok and 800,000 on Bilibili). Yang Heping advocates that whether it’s Ukraine, Russia, or Iran, “the truth is on the side of the proletariat, not on the side of any government or capitalist.”

In China, those who unconditionally support Iran and Russia are usually nationalists or national leftists.

I wonder if the differences between the left-wing in Europe and America and the left-wing in China are really that significant?

  • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmygrad.ml
    39·
    2 months ago

    We don’t generally believe these countries will reform their way to socialism. Revolutionary means by which socialism is established will still likely be required, even in a state like Russia where the KPRF occupies seats in the Duma.

    I believe the easiest way to connect your perspective with ours is in tying your stated concept of “support for utility” with the English term “critical support.” The “critical” refers to, essentially, the fact that we do not support their actual systems in the long term, merely their actions in relation to imperialism and neocolonialism. This is a strategic form of support.

    With respect to “Actually Existing Socialism,” such as the PRC, DPRK, Vietnam, Laos, former USSR, and Cuba, we simply state that we support them. This does not mean we believe any of these are perfect and don’t critique them, but instead that support is more broad, general, and aligned with the actual mode of production and distribution.

      • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmygrad.ml
        28·
        2 months ago

        I apologize, comrade. I will try to speak in a way that is easier and simpler to translate. The purpose of my second paragraph was to identify the source of confusion. It is my belief that the source of confusion is language differences. I will make this statement simple for easier machine translation.

        We support Russia and Iran only with respect to their anti imperialism. We do not support Russia and Iran’s economy. We support socialism, which we believe will likely require revolution even in Russia and Iran. Support is conditional and selective.

        I hope that better conveys my meaning!