The Censorship Chill on China's Historical Research

China's intensified censorship under President Xi Jinping has hindered historians' access to documents, impacting research on sensitive periods like the Cultural Revolution. Stricter laws and controls have turned antique markets, once valuable for such documents, into regulated spaces. Researchers face visa issues and rely increasingly on overseas collections.

China's intensified censorship under President Xi Jinping has significantly hindered historians' access to crucial documents, impacting research on sensitive periods such as the Cultural Revolution. Stricter control measures, including new national security and anti-espionage laws, have transformed flea markets from valuable research resources into highly regulated spaces.

Historians now face greater challenges in accessing materials, with some reporting visa issues that limit their ability to travel to China. Many, like Georgetown University's James Millward, have been denied visas after publishing studies on controversial or sensitive topics.

As a result, researchers are increasingly turning to overseas collections to continue their work. Nonetheless, some scholars maintain a cautious optimism, believing that efforts to understand and interpret PRC history will continue despite these challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)