A previously defunct magazine deemed to be one of the most radical, socialist and chauvinist publications in mainland China has reappeared online after 19 years, stirring speculation over a revival of Maoist ideals.

Zhongliu magazine was reborn on the internet as Zhongliu Congkan to cultivate and advocate discussion about Marxism, Maoism and nationalism in contemporary China, Chinese-language Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao said on Friday, citing the person in charge of the title.

First issued in 1988, Zhongliu folded in 2001 due to its criticism of then Chinese president Jiang Zemin for committing a major political mistake.

Its comeback as a propaganda tool followed an announcement in October 2017 by current President Xi Jinping to reinforce socialist core values, including Marxism, communism and nationalism with Chinese characteristics, plans that heralded a thoroughly tighter grip on society.

Xi then followed up his announcement by proclaiming Karl Marx as “the greatest thinker of modern times” in a May 2018 speech that marked the 200th anniversary of the German philosopher’s birth. “Marx was the mentor of revolution for the proletariat and working people all over the world,” he said at the time.

One of the first articles published on the revived Zhongliu Congkan is titled “Back to Marx” and features views from left-wing Tsinghua University Chinese literature professor Wang Hui, Egyptian-French Marxian economist Samir Amin and Indian political activist Arundhati Roy.

The print version of this magazine would be published when “the time is ripe,” Ming Pao said.

Wu Qiang, a Beijing-based independent political commentator, told Apple Daily that the relaunch was likely approved tacitly by the higher echelons of the Communist Party as it advocated neo-Maoist thought and fundamental Marxism. Zhongliu Congkan signaled a volte-face in terms of the Communist Party’s beliefs, he added.

Veteran China watcher Johnny Lau said that the magazine was not influential enough to affect Chinese politics.

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