Why China’s government is calling ‘lying flat’ a national security threat

In late April, China’s top intelligence agency claimed that foreign forces were weaponising the concept of “lying flat” to undermine a “belief in striving” among young people as well as to erode social values. Once a niche subculture, “lying flat” has evolved into a mainstream phenomenon over the past five years. But how did the buzzword get the attention of Chinese officials and what’s behind their concerns?