Chinese state tabloid editor-in-chief Hu Xijin (胡錫進), who became a leading voice of strident nationalism with millions of social media followers, yesterday announced his retirement. A self-described former pro- democracy protester turned outspoken newspaper editor, Hu helped usher in a new era of brash, assertive nationalism under Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平). In a social media post, Hu said he had stepped down as editor-in-chief of the Global Times, which is owned by the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) flagship newspaper, the People’s Daily. The 61-year-old wrote to his 24 million followers on Sina Weibo that it “is time to retire,” but that he would