Great Translation Movement
The Great Translation Movement (GTM) is an online effort that started in February 2022 during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It began as a Twitter account that collects and translates comments from China’s internet to show ultranationalist, pro-Russian, and anti-Western views. The translations are shared in languages like English, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish to help international readers understand some Chinese online discourse and how the CCP and state media are reacting to the war.
GTM grew out of Chinese-language subreddits and was launched by participants who wanted people outside China to see that Chinese online speech isn’t the same as government propaganda. They also encouraged commentary that supports Ukraine and called for donations to help Ukrainian people; within the first week, organizers reported about $10,000 in public donations.
In its early days, GTM faced platform changes and controversy. A subreddit that helped organize GTM was shut down for privacy concerns, and GTM then moved to other platforms such as Twitter and Pincong. Chinese state media and some observers have criticized GTM as foreign-backed propaganda and selective, cherry-picked content that does not represent how all Chinese people think. Some scholars and media analysts warn that translating provocative posts can distort public opinion, potentially fueling xenophobia or mischaracterizing Chinese society. Others view GTM as a form of activist journalism that challenges censorship and brings attention to nationalist rhetoric on Chinese social media.
Overall, GTM highlights a slice of online Chinese discourse that is often hidden from international audiences. While its translations can reveal certain state-aligned or nationalist attitudes, they are not a complete picture of public opinion in China and should be read with caution.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:12 (CET).