This article examines how China handles domestic terrorist incidents through its official media outlet, The People's Daily. By analyzing a comprehensive dataset of Uyghur terrorism cases and the CCP's public responses, we demonstrate that the party strategically acknowledges these events only under favorable political conditions. This finding challenges simplistic assumptions about autocratic information control by revealing it must balance short-term stability against long-term legitimacy gains—a complex calculus unique to China.
Data & Methods:
The study draws on newly compiled data tracking all known Uyghur terrorist violence in China alongside systematic analysis of CCP propaganda responses during 2014-2023. This period saw government acknowledgment shift dramatically depending on domestic and international circumstances.
Key Findings:
- The CCP's transparency about terrorism reflects strategic calculation rather than simple censorship • Responses to Uyghur incidents highlight institutionalized media management over outright suppression • Political conditions—not objective threat levels—drive official narratives of security
