Amid China’s declining economy and deepening social crisis, a new term called “historical garbage time” has emerged, following the trends of “involution” and “lying flat.” This term has sparked panic among official media and led to vigorous refutations. The discussion has ignited a whirlwind on the internet. Analysts believe that the official media’s efforts to discredit the term are only making matters worse, confirming that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has entered into a period of “garbage time.”
Recently, discussions about the concept of “historical garbage time” have been circulating both domestically and overseas, attributed to the Austrian-American economist Ludwig von Mises. The term suggests a phase in history where economic realities deviate irreversibly, individuals are powerless to change it, and the inevitable outcome is failure. This is what constitutes “historical garbage time.”
In early July, a 30-year-old female employee at a major Chinese financial firm died under abnormal circumstances, reportedly due to drastic pay cuts resulting from the economic downturn and a subsequent sharp decline in property prices post-home purchase. Discussions surrounding “historical garbage time” have been lively on mainland Chinese social media platforms, with prominent financial influencers warning against investing during this period and advocating for a stance of “lying flat” as a solution.
One Weibo user commented yesterday: “Many people are saying we’ve entered into ‘historical garbage time,’ with social class solidification, low spirits, and a majority of people lacking motivation. The golden age for those in the millennial generation who could easily pick jobs and positions upon graduation is long gone, now it’s the time for the younger generation to grit their teeth in frustration.”
Since last year, China’s economy has stagnated, prompting frequent calls from high-ranking CCP officials to promote the narrative of a prosperous economy. The online discussions on this topic have heightened official concerns.
On July 11th, Beijing Daily’s official public account “Chang’an Street Observer” published an article questioning the validity of “historical garbage time.” The author criticized the misuse of the term, suggesting it was used to propagate a sense of hopelessness and pessimism about China, rather than Mises’ original intention.
Wang Wen, Executive Dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, penned an article on Observer Network, highlighting the perceived dangers of “historical garbage time” compared to the notion of “lying flat,” advocating for people to adopt a more passive approach amidst these challenging times.
However, Wang also noted that the popularity of the term “historical garbage time” reflects the emotional resonance of many individuals and the societal psyche amidst the economic downturn.
Political commentator Li Lin told Epoch Times that the upcoming Third Plenum of the CCP has the authorities worried about losing control of public opinion.
He remarked, “In recent years, China has seen the emergence of many new terms, from ‘involution’ to ‘semi-lying flat,’ ‘lying flat,’ and now ‘historical garbage time.’ Upon closer examination, these terms reveal a progressive relationship.”
“The current popularity of ‘historical garbage time’ reflects the public’s complete despair towards the CCP. The more the official media frets about it, the more they inadvertently confirm the ongoing decay and insinuate that the CCP itself has entered into a period of ‘garbage time.'”
In the Weibo comment section related to articles from “Chang’an Street Observer,” only a few positive comments about the CCP’s actions remain while overseas platforms showcase numerous comments from netizens suggesting that the official responses confirm the onset of “garbage time”:
– User Baiqing Sǎo commented, “Once they start refuting these claims, it means ‘garbage time’ has truly begun.”
– User Wū dì Lǎoliú added, “This implies that there is a consensus within and outside the system – we are already in ‘historical garbage time’! This aligns perfectly with my own assessment. It is indeed ‘historical garbage time,’ and it actually started back in 2018 during the success of the constitutional amendments. Let’s just wash up and go to sleep.”
– User Jiānpíbù Wáng concluded, “Afraid! Refutation means acknowledging the inevitable.”
– User @dngxing33572357 stated, “Soon it will become a banned term.”
– User Anydy remarked, “These dictatorships are protecting the interests of specific groups, refusing to acknowledge the ‘garbage time’ amid a societal collapse and difficulty finding good jobs. The reality is that the national treasury is empty, there is a lot of government debt, and these articles avoid mentioning solutions while blaming society and individuals. Look at the stability and prosperity brought by Western economic systems.”
– User WeArePaper said, “At this moment in mainland China, no one can change the outcome no matter what they do. Any attempts to soothe emotions are lies; it’s all about buying time to escape. Just see where the corrupt officials’ families are.”
Records indicate that “garbage time” is a term commonly used in sports to describe a point in a game where one team’s lead is insurmountable, rendering the remaining time inconsequential.
A publication by mainland Chinese self-media outlet “Quanguo Perspective” on July 7, 2024, noted that while the term “historical garbage time” has no official standing in Mises’ economic theories, he did refer to the concept of “wasting time” informally when commenting on historical events and societal phenomena.
Further research revealed that shortly after Xi Jinping came to power, on September 19, 2013, prominent Chinese media figure Hu Wenhui first introduced the concept of “historical garbage time” in an article titled “Historical Garbage Time, Cultural Long Vacation,” which was published on Hu’s personal WeChat public account, “Historical Gray Areas.”
Regarding the definition of “historical garbage time,” Hu Wenhui explained, “History, like a competition, inevitably has a lot of trash time. At that moment, the outcome is already decided, the defeat is irreversible, and all efforts are futile struggles, only aiming to conclude matters with as much dignity as possible.”
According to Hu Wenhui’s assessment, the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 marked a period of “garbage time” for the nation, leading to its quagmire. The events of 1989 in Eastern Europe and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 were all consequences stemming from that period, with Gorbachev merely hastening the end of that “garbage time.”
Commentator Yuan Bin, writing in the Epoch Times, argued that similar to the Soviet Union’s entry into “garbage time” following actions like the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the CCP, starting with Xi Jinping’s reelection at the 20th Party Congress, has also reached this point. The CCP has tightened its control over the Chinese people, initiated a historical regression, seen the Chinese economy decelerate, witnessed escalating social conflicts, and faced growing dissent both within and outside the party, exacerbating its governance crisis.