Wikipedia

Five Identifications

Five Identifications (Chinese: 五个认同) as a term has been mentioned in many Chinese government and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) websites. It was proposed by the general secretary of the CCP, Xi Jinping.[1][2] He has repeatedly emphasized its importance.[3][4]

Entrance to the XUAR Museum in Ürümqi with a banner stating, "Under the guidance of Xi Jinping's ideology of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, we strive to compose the Xinjiang chapter of the Chinese nation's great rejuvenation of the Chinese dream." In the middle, there is a display of Xi Jinping, accompanied with the caption "General Secretary Xi Jinping and people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are united in mind."

The "five identifications" are identification with:

  1. the great motherland
  2. the Chinese nation (Zhonghua minzu)
  3. Chinese culture
  4. the Chinese Communist Party
  5. Socialism with Chinese characteristics

The CCP has stated that it wants to guide people of all ethnic groups toward these identifications. They believe they are an important foundation in maintaining social stability, long-term peace and security in ethnic regions.[5] In addition to ethnic groups, religious adherents and prison inmates are to be guided toward the five identifications.[6]

Background

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At the Second Central Work Conference on Xinjiang held in Beijing in May 2014, Xi Jinping "emphasized the need to firmly establish the correct views of the motherland and ethnicity among all ethnic groups, promote the socialist core values and the socialist core values system, enhance the identification of all ethnic groups with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, and the socialist path with Chinese characteristics. It is necessary to strengthen ideological and political work, create a positive social atmosphere, and guide people of all ethnic groups to pursue a modern civilized life."[7][8][9] Other commentators use the term "four identifications" to represent "great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, and the socialist path with Chinese characteristics" as stated by Xi at that May 2014 conference.[10]

At a conference on ethnic work held in Beijing during September 2014, Xi Jinping discussed the necessity of doing a good job in ethnic work and enabling people of all ethnic groups to strengthen their identification with the "great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, and the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics".[11]

The Regulations on United Front Work of the Communist Party of China (Trial) were published in 2015, and a listing of each of the five identifications (not the term itself) were given under article 20:

"To comprehensively, deeply, and persistently carry out activities to promote ethnic unity and progress, actively cultivate the awareness of the Chinese nation as a community, and enhance the identification with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the CCP, and socialism with Chinese characteristics among people of all ethnic groups."[12]

A revised version of the United Front Work regulations were published in 2021, with the word "trial" removed from the title. The five identifications were listed twice in the revised version. They appear in Chapter 5, Ethnic Work under article 22 and in Chapter 6, Religious Work under article 24. The addition of the five identifications for religious work clearly shows that religious followers will also be made to achieve these identifications.[13]

Xi Jinping considers Chinese culture to be the "trunk" and the various ethnic cultures in China to be the "branches and leaves". Only if the trunk is healthy and strong can the branches and leaves grow lush and abundant (中华文化是主干，各民族文化是枝叶，根深干壮才能枝繁叶茂。).[14]

Rationale behind an evolution from "Four Identifications" to "Five Identifications"

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"Identification with the Communist Party of China" was added to the "four identifications". An article posted on the website of the South-Central Minzu University stated that by highlighting the key identification with the CCP will help in "forming a more complete identification system and building a common ideological foundation for achieving ethnic unity".[15][16]

Core of Political Transformation

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As mentioned in an article of 23 October 2019, on a Chinese government website relating to prisons: "The core content of political transformation (政治改造) to enhance the five identifications of criminals: identifying with the leadership of the Communist Party, the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, and the socialist path." Photo from a prison with both the Five Major Transformations and the Five Identifications displayed on the wall in front of prison inmates.[17]

These five identifications are used as a basic standard for evaluating the effectiveness of criminal transformation.[6]

"Political transformation" is the leading component of the "five major transformations" (五大改造) which began being rolled out in prisons across China after a National Prison Work Conference held in June 2018.[6][18][19][20][21][22]

In 2020, the Beixinjing Prison in Shanghai released five books titled "Chinese Nation", "Chinese Culture", "Great China", "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" and "Communist Party of China" to educate prison inmates on the "five identifications" with the purpose of strengthening the "political transformation" component of the "five major transformations".[23]

References

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  1. ^ "國史研究應注重引導和增進"五個認同"". CPC News 中国共产党新闻网. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  2. ^ "习近平用"五个认同"巩固生命线 Xi Jinping strengthens lifeline with "five identifications"". 2015-10-01. Archived from the original on 2023-03-12. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  3. ^ Hayton, Bill (2020-10-13). The Invention of China. Yale University Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-300-23482-4.
  4. ^ "习近平：民族团结重在交心 Xi Jinping: National Unity Depends on Heart-to-Heart Communication". CPC News 中国共产党新闻网. 2017-05-22. Archived from the original on 2023-03-12. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  5. ^ ""五个认同"与民族地区意识形态安全 ("Five Identifications" and Ideological Security in Ethnic Regions)". 中国共产党新闻网 (CPC News). 2016-11-06. Archived from the original on 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  6. ^ a b c "试论政治改造在五大改造中的地位、作用及其与其他改造的关系 On the Position, Role, and Relationship of Political Transformation in the Five Major Transformations". China Prison Information Network 中国监狱信息网. 2019-10-23. Archived from the original on 2022-07-20.
  7. ^ Zhou, Minglang (2021-06-04). "Multiculturalism in China from melting pot to pressure cooker". East Asia Forum. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  8. ^ "Xi pledges better governance in Xinjiang". China.org.cn / Xinhua. 2014-05-30. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  9. ^ "习近平:坚持依法治疆团结稳疆长期建疆 团结各族人民建设社会主义新疆 (Xi Jinping: Adhere to the rule of law in governing Xinjiang, maintain unity and stability in Xinjiang in the long run, and unite people of all ethnic groups to build a new socialist Xinjiang)". 人民网 People's Daily Online. 2014-05-29. Archived from the original on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  10. ^ "闵伟轩：不断增强各族人民的"四个认同" (Min Weixuan: Continuously strengthening the "Four Identifications" of all ethnic groups)". 中华人民共和国国家民族事务委员会 (National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People's Republic of China). 2014-08-12. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  11. ^ "中央民族工作会议暨国务院第六次全国民族团结进步表彰大会在北京举行 (The Central Conference on Ethnic Work and the Sixth National Conference on Ethnic Unity and Progress Commendation Meeting of the State Council was held in Beijing)". CPC News 中国共产党新闻网. 2014-09-30. Archived from the original on 2022-10-20.
  12. ^ "中国共产党统一战线工作条例（试行）(Regulations on United Front Work of the Communist Party of China (Trial))". CPC News 中国共产党新闻网. 2015-09-23. Archived from the original on 2022-02-27. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  13. ^ "中共中央印发《中国共产党统一战线工作条例》(Regulations on United Front Work of the Communist Party of China)". www.gov.cn. 2021-01-05. Archived from the original on 2022-03-29. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  14. ^ "以铸牢中华民族共同体意识为主线 推动新时代党的民族工作高质量发展 (Taking the strengthening of the consciousness of the Chinese nation's community as the mainline, promoting the high-quality development of the party's national work in the new era)". CPC News 中国共产党新闻网. 2021-08-29. Archived from the original on 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  15. ^ "论"对中国共产党认同"与"五个认同"意识培育 (On the cultivation of the consciousness of "identification with the Communist Party of China" and the "Five Identifications")". 中南民族大学 (South-Central Minzu University). 2019-01-11. Archived from the original on 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-03-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  16. ^ "2012年新疆维吾尔自治区人民政府工作报告". www.gov.cn. 2012-02-02. Archived from the original on 2017-04-29. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  17. ^ "安康监狱三监区："观学谈写"助推政治改造再提升 Cell Block No. 3 of Ankang Prison: "Observing, Learning, Discussing, and Writing" Helps to Further Improve Political Transformation". 搜狐 Sohu.com. 2020-05-31. Archived from the original on 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  18. ^ "Document: What Chinese Officials Told Children Whose Families Were Put in Camps". The New York Times. 2019-11-16. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  19. ^ "Publicity Department of CPC Central Committee holds press conference on achievements and measures on ethnic unity and progress in the new era". The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China. 2022-08-17. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09.
  20. ^ Strangio, Sebastian (2020-10-27). "Bill Hayton on the Invention of the Chinese Nation". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  21. ^ "落实"五大改造"，监狱长这样讲…… (Implementing the "Five Major Reforms", the prison warden said...)". 澎湃新闻 The Paper. 2019-06-17. Archived from the original on 2023-03-11. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  22. ^ ""五大改造"的价值解读 (Value Interpretation of the "Five Major Transformations")". 中国知网(CNKI). Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  23. ^ "【榜样】北新泾监狱：爱岗敬业，打造严格、公正、文明、规范执法的新标杆 【Role Model】Beixinjing Prison: With a dedication to work, creating a new benchmark for strict, fair, civilized and standardized law enforcement". The Paper 澎湃新闻. 2020-09-11. Archived from the original on 2023-03-11. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
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