Images of children’s book and cartoon bear Winnie the Pooh have been used to poke fun at China’s president since 2013, when social media users noticed their alleged resemblance during a visit by Xi Jinping to the United States. On Saturday, the meme reared up again,…
Images of children’s book and cartoon bear Winnie the Pooh have been used to poke fun at China’s president since 2013, when social media users noticed their alleged resemblance during a visit by Xi Jinping to the United States. On Saturday, the meme reared up again, spurred by a Weibo post from Sogou CEO Wang Xiaochuan. This renewed attention prompted widespread though reportedly inconsistent post removals and search blocks, as well as the removal of WeChat’s Pooh Bear stickers in an apparent effort to protect Xi’s carefully groomed public image ahead of a pivotal leadership shift at this autumn’s 19th Party Congress.
