Patriotic article gets wide media coverage

Chinese media have given extensive coverage to an anonymously written online article advocating patriotism and national unity.

Wednesday's edition of People's Daily, flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China, published a report on the dissemination of the article, which is titled "Without your country, you are nothing."

It is not known where the article was first published, but it has been reposted more than 39,350 times on Sina Weibo, China's main social media website.

People's Daily quoted the article as saying that the reason China experienced foreign aggression in the past was that the country was weak and poor. If the country perished, individuals would also be in peril.

"If China is thrown into turmoil, it will be a catastrophe for all the 1.3 billion Chinese people," the online article states, adding that China's prosperity and development in recent decades prove that only the Party can unite and lead the country.

Further patriotic quotes from the article include "We support President Xi Jinping", "We have confidence in President Xi", "We will stand by President Xi", and "Love our country, and always remember one's well-being will always come with the well-being of the country and the nation."

People's Daily also published a commentary on the article. "The destiny of all of us is bound together with our country, and only when the country flourishes can individuals' freedom and happiness be guaranteed," said the commentary, under the byline of Zhang He.

The commentary said that uniting and striving together for China's prosperity, and safeguarding the country's dignity and social stability should be the Chinese people's common aspiration.

"The hard-earned peace, security and prosperity in today's China should be well cherished," it added.

However, the commentary said there are still some problems and imperfections in China that need to be fixed, and a stable environment is needed to advance all kinds of reforms.

Another commentary, in the People's Liberation Army Daily, said the greatest patriotic behavior on the part of soldiers is to improve their fighting capabilities and bring victory to the country.

Faced with new challenges from China's security situation and the mission to ensure the country's peaceful development, the military should turn patriotism into concrete measures to build a strong army and always remain alert to its responsibilities, the PLA Daily said.

Tuesday's edition of China Youth Daily also quoted the online article as saying that ordinary civilians will be the main victims of social upheaval, and that safeguarding the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be the common will of all citizens.