Why We Misunderstand the Chinese Internet

"To live in China, Liu writes, is to participate in "a dynamic push and pull between state and society," a "tango [set] to an erratic rhythm of subversion and acquiescence." It's an apt metaphor: A dance is an ongoing negotiation that can unravel as soon as its carefully prescribed choreography is undone. And to evoke the language of dance is to evoke an idea often missing in conversations about China—a recognition of a common humanity; of people just like us, constrained by circumstance, grasping for freedom."

"The Wall Dancers is the product of Liu's eight years reporting about the country, and it tells the stories of the artists and activists she deems "dancers": individuals pushing for "greater openness and freedom within the state's shifting bounds." Tracing the major shifts in the country from the mid-1990s until the present day, it is billed as a book about the Chinese Internet. Yet Liu seems less focused on the Internet per se and more concerned with the vibrant countercultures dotting the country, for whom online life has been a lifeline."

Journalist Yi-Ling Liu challenges Western binary portrayals of China by introducing the metaphor of "dancing in shackles" to describe the complex relationship between state and society. Rather than viewing power as monolithic with only two options—complete resistance or submission—Liu presents China as a space of ongoing negotiation and dynamic push-and-pull. Her book, The Wall Dancers, draws from eight years of reporting and tells stories of artists, activists, and ordinary citizens who operate as "dancers," pushing for greater openness and freedom within the state's evolving boundaries. The work traces major shifts in China from the mid-1990s to present day, focusing on vibrant countercultures for whom online life has served as essential. These individuals include pioneers in LGBTQ+ activism, feminist organizing, and other fields who navigate constraints with nuance and agency.

Read at The Nation