[1] The 2004 Chinese Communist Party announcement of the goal of constructing a "harmonious society" has been cited by the government of China as the reason for Internet censorship.

In a further complication of meaning, sometimes aquatic product (Chinese: 水产) is used in place of "river crab".

The widespread use of "river crab" by Chinese netizens represents a sarcastic defiance against official discourse and censorship.

Some observers, however, have warned that the practice may also reproduce domination, since it does not aim for the abolition of censorship.

The sensitive words will remain silent as such, and as a result the everyday reappropriation of official language creates the conditions for the latter's perpetuation.