China's Ministry of State Security Cites Overseas Influence on Youth via 'Lying Flat' Promotion

China's Ministry of State Security issued a warning on April 28, 2026, accusing unnamed overseas actors of pushing messages to Chinese youth encouraging them to give up. The warning, released via the ministry's public WeChat account, highlighted efforts by overseas organizations to fund anti-China media outlets and think tanks.

These groups concocted narratives such as 'class solidification' and 'hard work is useless,' according to the ministry's statement.

Another overseas organization financed 'lying-flat influencers' to produce short videos promoting ideas like 'lying flat is justice' and 'resisting rat race equals resisting exploitation,' the Ministry of State Security stated. ' Hot Air reported on the ministry's account of these activities. 'Lying flat' became a trending phrase on Chinese social media around 2021.

In 2021, China's workforce faced an economic slowdown, trade tensions with the West, and the coronavirus pandemic. m. m. six days a week. President Xi Jinping issued a warning about 'lying flat' in an article published in October 2021 by Qiushi.

' Hot Air reported on the persistence of the 'lying flat' attitude amid employment challenges. Xi Jinping issued another note of caution about 'lying flat' for cadres at the second plenum of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in 2023. A national campaign followed Xi's 2023 caution, with local governments naming and shaming grass-roots officials who were lying flat.