China's 'Unofficial' Chief Propagandist Retires From Global Times

If you regularly follow news from China, chances are you’ve come across the name Hu Xijin — and his fiery tirades against the West.

Photo Insert: Hu Xijin

Hu, a long-time editor of notoriously nationalistic state tabloid the Global Times, is arguably one of the most quoted people in Western media coverage of China — after Chinese President Xi Jinping, Nectar Gan and Jill Disis reported for CNN early on Dec. 18, 2021.

But the face of China’s nationalist propaganda is now stepping down. Hu, who turns 62 next year, said Thursday he has retired and is no longer serving as the editor-in-chief of the Global Times, according to a post on his verified Weibo account.

He added that he will continue as a “special commentator” for the tabloid, and will “continue to contribute to the development of the Global Times and continue to do my best for the (Chinese Communist Party’s) news and public opinion work.”

“I sincerely thank you for your continued support and attention to the Global Times, and thank you for your encouragement and criticism,” Hu wrote. The announcement follows a swirl of rumors this week that Hu was to be replaced at the newspaper.

While Hu has reached the official retirement age, some analysts have questioned whether his high profile, apparent hubris, and extreme remarks have contributed to his sudden departure.

A former war correspondent for the People's Daily, the Party's official newspaper, Hu has spent years building a loyal following — becoming one of the most recognizable media personalities in China.

He posts regular commentaries in writing and videos to his more than 24 million followers on the Twitter-like Weibo service. He's also amassed a following of more than 450,000 followers on Twitter, where his English-language tweets reflect the nationalistic and confrontational nature of the tabloid he edits — and are frequently cited in Western media.

Hu has been the top editor at the Global Times since 2005 and spearheaded the launch of its English edition in 2009.

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