Anti-revisionism in China: China’s Repression of Anti-Revisionist movements

By Paulus Strother

In 1978, China shifted from being an anti-revisionist nation toward a capitalist one. Deng Xiaoping, the key figure behind this transformation, began implementing capitalist reforms such as the "Reform and Opening Up," which marked a betrayal of socialism and anti-revisionism. Many people who had supported Chairman Mao during his rule opposed the new capitalist direction of the Chinese government, and created small parties, such as the Communist Party of China (Marxist-Leninist) they sought to overthrow the revisionist regime and continue Maoism in China, advocating for armed struggle rather than elections, since the ,,Communist'' Party of China (CPC) had banned political parties. During the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests, many Maoist also attended and protested against the new capitalist government, but were later arrested by the Chinese government. Looking at other Maoist parties in China, one notable example is the Maoist Communist Party, that got banned for opposing Deng Xiaoping and the ,,Communist'' Party of China. So far, many underground Maoist movements exist, according to a Chinese Maoist comrade. The Chinese government has intensified its crackdown on Maoist movements and comrades, especially in the year 2025. During the Jiangyou protests on July 6, 2025, which were primarily triggered by public anger over a school bullying case, a Maoist comrade reportedly marched with a portrait of Chairman Mao and shouted, “Long live Chairman Mao!” He was later arrested by police. This incident reflects the broader suppression of anti-revisionist sentiment and the increasing intolerance toward political dissent in China. This was not the first instance of Maoists being arrested. In 2018, amid a strike at a factory in Shenzhen, a group of young Maoist students rallied in support of the workers in effort of helping the workers strike. Since the fall of Maoism in China, numerous protests have occurred in factories. During Chairman Mao’s leadership, such protests and strikes were nonexistent since everyone was well payed, compared to modern day China. After years of revisionism, the youth and others have stood against the Dengist government and advocating for the return of Maoism in China.