Concerning the Situation in the Ideological Sphere

Concerning the Situation in the Ideological Sphere also known as Document No. 9, is a confidential internal document widely circulated within the Communist Party of China in 2013 by the Central Committee General Office. The document warns of seven dangerous Western values, allegedly including media freedom and judicial independence. There is an emphasis on controlling and preventing communication using the internet of ideas subversive to one party rule. The document was issued in the context of planned economic reforms and increased calls for political reform.

The seven dangerous values

 * Western constitutional democracy
 * Universal values of human rights
 * Western conceptions of
 * Media independence
 * Civil society
 * Pro-market neo-liberalism
 * "Nihilist” criticisms of past errors of the party.

Analysis
The emphasis on political discipline is intended to forestall leftist, or Maoist, opposition to needed economic reforms avoiding the split which resulted in the Soviet Union during Gorbachev's reform efforts when media freedom resulted in publishing of a great deal of critical historical material and alienation of the mass of party workers.