Xi Jinping Praises Women’s Rights Progress in China Amidst Growing Restrictions
Beijing – Addressing dignitaries today, October 15, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping lauded the advancements in women’s rights within China, while concerns continue to mount over increasing limitations on feminist activism and expression.
Speaking at the global women’s summit in Beijing, marking the 30th anniversary of the 1995 UN world conference on women, Xi highlighted a nearly 80% reduction in maternal mortality rates over the past three decades and asserted that women are participating in national governance with “unprecedented confidence and vigour.” He also announced a $10 million donation to UN Women and a $100 million fund for countries in the Global South. This summit echoes the spirit of the landmark 1995 conference where then-First Lady Hillary Clinton delivered her influential “women’s rights are human rights” speech, a sentiment frequently referenced by advocates within China.
However, despite the president’s optimistic tone, Chinese feminists report a tightening grip on their ability to advocate for women’s rights. Lü Pin, an activist currently based in New Jersey, explained, “Today, countless people, primarily young women, identify as feminists and practice feminist choices in their personal lives…However, feminist activities beyond personal life are severely limited.” She noted the suppression of feminist organizations, recalling how her own group was forced to close in 2018 and the 2015 detention of the “feminist five” after a protest against sexual harassment. The crackdown on civil society extends to online spaces, with platforms like Weibo implementing measures to censor content deemed to promote “gender antagonism,” as detailed by China Digital Times.
Recent examples include the deletion of feminist blogger Jiang Chan’s WeChat account and bans issued to over 1,300 Weibo accounts. Vlogger Wang Huiling, who gained popularity sharing experiences of women in rural China, had all her social media accounts deleted in January and her 2021 memoir, Grassroots Women, banned from reprint in April. These actions reflect a broader trend of the government encouraging traditional roles for women, particularly in relation to addressing China’s declining birthrate, with Xi Jinping stating in 2023 the need to “cultivate a new marriage and child-bearing culture.” This suppression of feminist voices is particularly concerning given the historical significance of the 1995 Beijing conference and its commitment to advancing gender equality globally.
Chinese officials stated they will continue to prioritize women’s development while maintaining social stability and upholding core socialist values.
