Chinese propagandists don’t want you to read this diary on the coronavirus lockdown in Wuhan

Fang Fang, a highly respected author in Wuhan, has been fighting to give her community a voice in the face of what she sees as censorship

As the coronavirus raged in Wuhan and across China, Fang Fang, a well-known writer based in the city, decided to write a diary about life under the lockdown and her own reflections on the crisis.

Having lived all her adult life there, Fang Fang feels passionate about Wuhan; but like millions of her fellow residents, she was consumed by fear, confusion and sadness. During her time under lockdown, she wrote the following:

29 January

“We are all shut inside our homes, but as long as we have not been infected, we are OK. But for the patients who are seeking hospital treatment, it is very tough. I have watched video footage of medical staff and patients having a meltdown; I have never experienced such sadness and helplessness in my life.”

2 February

“As predicted, we are seeing a spike of cases now. Some of those infected but can’t get into the hospital are at the end of their tether. Someone jumped from a bridge last night. A community worker told us a whole family had been infected but can’t get into the hospital. One has died. In desperation, the rest want to end their lives. Totally heart wrenching and painful to see Wuhan like this.”

Fang Fang’s diary about life under lockdown has resonated with the public (Fangfang)

Fang Fang’s narration and empathy soon caught the attention of the public, who seem to have found an outlet for their own frustration and grief as they relate to the individual suffering behind the rising cases and death toll. They read and share her diary in their millions on Weibo (China’s microblogging site) and offer support as well as their own stories.

None of this should come as a surprise, as Fang Fang is a highly respected author in Wuhan. She worked as a porter before studying Chinese literature at Wuhan University in the early 1980s and has published over 60 poems, essays and novels and won several prestigious literary prizes. She often portrays the underdogs in society, those with no hopes but keep fighting. Her Wuhan diary is simply an extension of her personality and beliefs.

Such as her scathing criticism of insensitive official propaganda:

31 January

“How many people have died in Wuhan and [had their] families destroyed? But so far, not a single person has said sorry or taken responsibility. I have even seen a writer using the phrase ‘complete victory’. What are they talking about? Wuhan is in such a bad state, with people’s lives hanging by a thread. Where is the victory?”

Fang Fang warns fellow writers:

“You will likely be asked to write celebratory essays and poems. Please pause before you write – who do you want to praise? If you want to curry favours, watch how low you [...] go. I might be getting old, but I’ll never give up voicing my opinion.”

Such strong stances often get Fang Fang in trouble. Her Weibo account, with more than 3.8 million followers, was banned on the same night Dr Li Wenliang died after being infected by the coronavirus.

Dr Li was one of eight whistleblowers reprimanded by Wuhan police for “spreading rumours” after they warned friends on social media circles about a new Sars like pneumonia. Dr Li was infected in mid-January and passed away on 7 February.

His death sparked an outpouring of grief and anger in Wuhan and across the country. Many were furious that authorities were busy silencing whistleblowers rather than informing the public about the virus.

With more information coming into the public domain, it is becoming clear that mistakes were made in January. Officials failed to inform the public about the new virus in a timely manner, especially the fact that the virus could transmit from human to human; they did not make sufficient preparations in staff and supplies, so the situation soon spiralled out of control. By the time Wuhan was placed under lockdown, five million people had left the city for the Chinese New Year, many carrying the virus with them.

To Fang Fang and many others, it’s important to recognise such failings and learn lessons.

“The biggest lesson is this: a government should place people’s livelihood as the top priority; it should not put political correctness and meetings above everything else”, she told me.

The “meetings” refer to the fact that Wuhan government did not issue any update regarding the virus during the people’s congress in early January.

Now the Chinese government is tackling the coronavirus like a war, mobilising resources while putting in draconian measures. Only the official narrative is permitted and people who raise questions are hushed and punished.

Fang Fang herself has to constantly find new platforms to publish her diary, with censors following her around and removing her posts; but many others manage to read and share them and praise her courage.

One reader wrote: “a writer and former chairman of the provincial writers’ association is banned for 14 days just because she publishes a diary and expresses her feelings – this is ridiculous”.

Another thanked Fang Fang for letting people know what’s really happening in Wuhan. “This country needs writers with a conscience like you. The public has lost trust with much of the official media.”

Fang Fang is not without detractors and trolls. One army writer attacked her for not thinking about the country, but being hell bent on spreading negative information. Another blogger thinks that Fang Fang only criticises others for not doing things right but has never gone out to help in any way herself.

Faced with all this, Fang Fang remains defiant.

“I have done nothing wrong.” She told me. “All I have done is [...] record what’s happening around me and my own feelings after reading so many miserable stories. If I can’t even do [that], then our society has a big problem.”

On 1 March new regulation governing internet content took effect in China, which will only mean tighter control over content deemed “harmful” to the state, and a tougher fight for Fang Fang and others who want to have a voice.

Yuwen Wu is a London based China analyst and former senior journalist with the BBC