Qiushi (Chinese: 求是; pinyin: Qiúshì; lit. 'Seeking Truth') is the leading official theoretical journal and news magazine of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), published bi-monthly by the Central Party School and the Central Committee. The journal is headquartered in Beijing.[1]

Qiushi Journal
CategoriesMagazine of political theory
FrequencyBi-Weekly
PublisherQiushi Magazine Agency
First issueJuly 1, 1988; 36 years ago (1988-07-01)
CountryChina
Based inBeijing
LanguageChinese
Websitewww.qstheory.cn Edit this at Wikidata
ISSN1674-7569
OCLC780929465

The publication aims to publicize the CCP's governing philosophy. According to its English language version, "about 60%" of the articles published in the journal are written by party and state leaders such as the CCP general secretary Xi Jinping and senior officials at the ministerial and provincial levels. Contributors also include scholars and researchers of China's think tanks and academic institutions.[2]

Reflecting the official positions of the CCP and its leaders, the journal aims to "educate and guide the whole party to consciously maintain a high degree of consistency with the CCP Central Committee in ideological and political actions."[3]

History

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In light of China's changing political climate, the CCP sought to distance itself from the Cultural Revolution, favoring instead a policy of Reform and Opening.[4][5] Qiushi's more Cultural Revolution-oriented, Maoist predecessor, Red Flag, stopped publishing with its final issues coming out in June 1988.[6] Quishi was first published in July 1988 as a more reform-oriented voice for the CCP. The title originates from the quote shí shì qiú shì (实事求是), which means "seeking truth from facts." The journal's logo was handwritten by former CCP leader, Deng Xiaoping.[7]

Qiushi established its website on 1 July 2009. On 1 October 2009, an English-language edition of the journal was introduced.[7] Qiushi Online, the journal's English language website, uses materials from both the Chinese and English versions of the journal to "introduce the CPC's theories, policies, and practical experience in national governance to a domestic and foreign audience."[8]

In January 2015, Qiushi published an article by Xu Lan, an official from the publicity office of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, criticizing university professors for "spreading Western values among Chinese youth."[9]

On 15 February 2020, Qiushi documented Xi Jinping's January 7 order regarding the COVID-19 outbreak at a CCP Politburo Standing Committee.[10] Later, on 11 October 2020, Qiushi published an article by Xi Jinping titled "Opening Up New Frontiers for Marxist Political Economy in Contemporary China," in which he quotes French economist Thomas Picketty's work as justification for China's current socialist system in regards to income inequality and wealth inequality.[11]

In 2024, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council banned its citizens from working at the Qiushi due to national security concerns.[12][13]

Content

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The magazine publishes articles by the top leaders of China, although most of the writing is done by secretaries and drafting teams.[14] The magazine is of particular interest to sinologists and China scholars since it is a useful collection of speeches and articles by top CCP leaders, giving a useful indication of the general policy direction of the CCP and to some extent general attitudes within the party on certain issues of national and international importance.[15]

Organization

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The publisher of Qiushi in Beijing

Qiushi is published by the Qiushi Magazine Agency, a deputy-ministerial-level institution.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Europa World Year. Taylor & Francis Group. 2004. p. 1142. ISBN 978-1-85743-254-1. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  2. ^ "About Qiushi Journal". english.qstheory.cn. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  3. ^ "贯彻落实新时代党的组织路线 不断把党建设得更加坚强有力 - 求是网". www.qstheory.cn. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Reform". Beijing News. 30 May 2008.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "China to Furl Red Flag, Its Maoist Theoretical Journal". Los Angeles Times. 1 May 1988. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  6. ^ Kevin Latham (2007). Pop Culture China!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle. ABC-CLIO. p. 153. ISBN 978-1-85109-582-7. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  7. ^ a b "About Qiushi Journal". Qiushi Journal. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Introduction to Qiushi Online". en.qstheory.cn. Archived from the original on 7 December 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  9. ^ "China Communist Party magazine blasts professors who spread 'Western values'". South China Morning Post. 25 January 2015. Archived from the original on 7 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  10. ^ "U.S. Says It will Evacuate Americans from Cruise Ship". The New York Times. 15 February 2020. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  11. ^ Jinping, Xi (11 October 2020). "Opening Up New Frontiers for Marxist Political Economy in Contemporary China". Qiushi. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  12. ^ "MAC expands list of banned China postings". Taipei Times. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Taiwan bans its citizens from working for China's Confucius Institutes". Focus Taiwan. 3 May 2024. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Decoding Chinese Politics: Party Center". Asia Society. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  15. ^ Lams, Lutgard (September 2018). "Examining Strategic Narratives in Chinese Official Discourse under Xi Jinping". Journal of Chinese Political Science. 23 (3): 387–411. doi:10.1007/s11366-018-9529-8. ISSN 1080-6954. S2CID 158544461.
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