“I’m Jackson Wang from China”: Global Celebrities as China’s Messengers of Nationalism

This paper examines the rise of nationalist expressions among globally recognized Chinese celebrities, such as Jackson Wang, Fan Bingbing, and Jackie Chan. Global Chinese celebrities, defined here as individuals born in China who have risen to international prominence, used to appear generally apolitical in the public eye, but can now more often be observed expressing nationalism, despite having access to uncensored information about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In this paper, nationalism refers to expressions of pride in one’s nation, often linked to support for the government and its policies. Here, the term carries a less negative connotation than it typically does in popular discourse. Why have globally recognized Chinese celebrities seemingly transitioned from being generally apolitical to increasingly nationalistic? This trend can be attributed to factors such as the CCP’s co-optation strategies, censorship, cybernationalism, and an increasingly authoritarian Chinese population. Additionally, global Chinese celebrities possess a unique ability to reach and influence audiences worldwide. Their expressions of nationalism may, therefore, be driven by an increasing perception of anti-China prejudice. I argue that this shift results from both genuine nationalist sentiments and CCP co-optation in response to a blend of the aforementioned factors.