Public opinion has been playing an increasingly vital role as China continues to develop. There are four reasons for this. First, people have more direct access to expressing their opinions. Second, as individuals' rights become more emphasized under the influence of the market economy, public opinion is becoming more difficult to control. Third, China has entered globalization thanks to its reform and opening-up, and outside opinion can easily influence domestic opinion. Fourth, big powers have formed peaceful relations, and the contention of rhetoric can be a means for them to compete with each other or for one country to break its current political balance.

China's opinions have become diverse. Such diversity meant different opinions in the past. But now, some forces are trying to make use of public opinion to initiate a "fight" to seek political gains.

In the past few years, we could sense the smell of "gunpowder" from public opinion. Rumors carrying political significance were on the increase. Fabrications claiming to carry values can be a powerful tool. Criticism of trivial things can be exaggerated as condemnation of the country's system.

Many criticisms are reasonable and target specific matters. However, when they are brought to the public opinion sphere with a political aim, they can evolve into a big event. As ideological environments within and outside China interact with each other actively, such events can influence all of society.

China's rise has become a reality. The geopolitical rivalry between the West and China has become fierce. Traditional military and economic means do not work on this point. At the same time, the soft power of the West has an absolute advantage over that of China. The West still remains at the top in terms of social and economic development. All it has is labeled "universal," which has affected many Chinese.

China may not gain the advantage in arguing with the West, but can be the best among developing nations. As popular Western political concepts come to its opinion sphere, they have become China's focus of opinion.

The market economy has created a diversified pattern of interests. An absolute political consensus is unlikely to be found in China. As long as China keeps its sphere of opinion open, fierce ideological fights cannot be avoided.

Due to China's size and shortcomings, local news can be picked up as a tool to attack the national system. The value of patriotism must stand firm in China's opinion sphere.

Those who oppose China's system are very active, as are a few Western elites. But elites in China's mainstream society have kept a low profile. China's mainstream opinion is backed up by the press. While it lacks real content, it adds to the vulnerability and passivity of positive opinions.

Such a situation should be changed soon. China's mainstream elites should give support to positive opinions. China's development trend will also provide strength to change the pattern of the battle of opinions.