自干五 [zi gan wu]

Ziganwu are netizens who voluntarily refute online rumors targeted at China. Unlike Wumao, or Fifty-cents who are said to be paid five mao by government organizations for each online thread criticizing the Communist Party or Chinese policy that they delete, Ziganwu rebut online slander about China at their own will. The name is said to be a self-mocking term they invented for themselves.

Ziganwu emerged as a reaction to online views that irrationally advocate Western society and systems and play up China's social issues. They are having doubts on the ideas promoted by Chinese liberals and pseudo-liberals, as they have seen China's economic and social achievements since reform and opening-up, and the decline of major western economies' in recent years, including their weak performance during the global financial crisis and its aftermath.

Interestingly, some Ziganwu are leftists and nationalists who converted from liberalists and fight against their former allies online.

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