A New Man

Much has been written about the Chinese Social Credit System (社会信用体系) which continues to be rolled out.  Seen by outsiders as draconian, it has a clearly defined aim and is well supported by many in China.
First announced in 2014, it is "an important part of the Socialist market economy system and aims to reinforce the idea that "keeping trust is glorious and breaking trust is disgraceful," according to a 2015 government document.

A State Council publication puts it this way "The trustworthy will be allowed to roam everywhere under heaven but the discredited will find it hard to take a single step."

It's still not a unified, nationwide system, more a large number of trial projects, but China plans on eventually making it mandatory for everyone.

Its purpose can be summarized as the making of a New Man in China. A compliant law abiding citizen. 

German writer Kai Strittmatter in his book "We Have Been Harmonized" describes an interview with an official in Rongcheng - home to the most advanced Social Credit trial.  The official said: "we want to civilize people. Our aim is to normalize their behavior. When everyone behaves according to the norms, society is automatically stable and harmonious."

Strittmatter also meets a key player in the development of the system - Professor Zhang Zheng of prestigious Peking University.  He tells Strittmatter: 

"its quite simple.  There are two kinds of people - good and bad.  Imagine a world where the good ones are rewarded and the bad ones are punished.  A world in which those who respect their parents, never jaywalk and pay all their bills on time are rewarded.  A world where these people are allowed to buy "soft sleeper" tickets or given easy access to loans and others aren't.  Doesn't that sound like a fairer - a more harmonious world?"

Shanghai's Social Credit trial programme is an app called "Honest Shanghai" which citizens can download voluntarily.  It can access 5,198 pieces of information per citizen from 97 public authorities.  City official Shao Zhiqing says  "it will change the face of China.  Above all it will allow us to answer the question - 'are you a trustworthy citizen?'"

Back in Beijing an excited Professor Zhang Zheng tells Strittmatter:  "The goal is to find them out at all times and in all places.  With the help of big data, every citizen will get an evaluation stamp that will become their identity and which will ultimately determine how they live their life and what access they have to social resources."

The origins of this system could be traced back to a 2013 survey by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing.  The Shanghai branch found that 90% of those questioned said that anyone in China who was honest and trustworthy was automatically at a disadvantage.  

Later that year, when Xi Jinping came to power he laid the foundations for the system by tackling systemic corruption, toxic food issues, polluted rivers etc.

Whilst many citizens (maybe too innocently) see merit in the system there is some contrary comment.  Well known essayist YouShanDaBu writes: "The investigation of the entire population has become a reality.  No one has a corner left to hide in.  Our only option now is to think the same thought."

That is a pretty good description of "The New Man"

Prayer Points

Being a Christian, even knowing or having links to a Christian will likely incur demerit points.  Pray for good strategies that will allow on - going fellowship, sharing and worship.

Pray that these and similar programmes will meet resistance that will allow a return of freedom of thought and action.

Pray for the Government - asking God to soften hearts and produce a change of direction away from these stifling policies.