Why Are Russia and China Cooperating on ‘Patriotic Education’? — SkimNews
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- China and Russia committed to enhancing patriotic education for youth during the October 21 Li-Mishustin summit, embedding the initiative in a broader agreement covering AI, space, and nuclear energy.
- China launched its patriotic education campaign in 1989 following the Tiananmen Square protests, using state-led historical narratives to promote loyalty and distrust of Western influences.
- Russia introduced its first patriotic education plan in 2001 under Putin, initially emphasizing cultural pride but later shifting toward militarism and anti-Western rhetoric after the 2014 Crimea annexation.
- The 2023 Patriotic Education Law in China legally obligates schools, professionals, and organizations to promote loyalty to the nation and the CCP, framing unification with Taiwan as a 'sacred duty'.
- Patriotic education in Russia has increasingly served to justify military actions, with schools conducting military training and ceremonies that bolster public support for Kremlin operations.
- Chinese officials view Russia’s system as a model for cultivating nationalist sentiment, particularly in preparing youth to accept territorial claims, including over Taiwan.
Why it matters: By codifying patriotic education into law and aligning with Russia’s model, China is institutionalizing a generation-wide effort to legitimize future military or coercive actions on Taiwan. The collaboration normalizes authoritarian narratives that frame the West as an existential threat, increasing geopolitical polarization with tangible consequences for regional security.
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