Online resistance to Xi ‘dynasty’

BEIJING’S army of online censors has been mobilised to stamp out the ridicule and criticism of an announcement that Xi Jinping could rule for life.

China plans to remove a two-term limit from its president in a move that would see the Chinese leader rule beyond 2023 and perhaps indefinitely.

The news was greeted in China by a wave of critical online messages, but moments later the comments were removed from the internet by censors. On China’s version of Twitter, the search term “two-term limit” and similar phrases were blocked.

The proposal was compared by some to rule in North Korea, where Kim Jong-un is an unelected third generation ruler.

Among posts censored yesterday was an image of China’s last emperor, Pu Yi, with the words: “Is my Qing dynasty returning?” Censors were also busy removing pictures of Winnie the Pooh, the portly bear many in China think resembles Mr Xi. One post showed Winnie hugging a pot of honey with the caption: “Find the thing you love and stick with it.”

Some of the censorship appeared to have been lifted late on Monday, but state media outlets were ramping up their propaganda drive to promote the changes to the constitution.

China’s Global Times said the criticism was due to “misinformation and external forces” and that “all Chinese people” backed the plan.