Chinese censors act quickly to remove satirical commentary

Chinese censors have acted quickly to remove satirical commentary online about the ruling Communist Party’s move to enable President Xi Jinping to stay in power indefinitely.

The move comes as political observers weigh the possibility that China will return to an era of one-man rule.

One day after the party announced a proposed constitutional change to be approved next month, Chinese internet users found themselves unable to signal approval or disapproval by changing their profiles. Key search topics such as “serve another term” were censored.

Nevertheless, social media users shared images of Winnie the Pooh hugging a jar of honey along with the quote: “Find the thing you love and stick with it.”

The Disney bear’s image has been compared to Mr Xi, prompting periodic blocks on the use of Pooh pictures online.

Other online commenters wrote: “Attention, the vehicle is reversing” - an automated announcement used by Chinese delivery vehicles - suggesting that China is returning to the era of former dictator Mao Zedong or even imperial rule. Another widely-circulated comment played on the intense pressure young Chinese often face from their parents to marry and produce grandchildren.

“My mother told me that I have to get married during Xi Dada’s presidential term,” it said, using a reference for Xi typically translated as “Big Uncle Xi”.

“Now I can finally breathe a long sigh of relief,” the post read. Not all the censored posts were critical of the proposal to eliminate term limits. Some users pointed out countries like Germany and Canada also do not have term limits for their leaders, while others simply commented on news of the announcement with: “Witnessing history.”

The country’s parliament, the National People’s Congress, is all but certain to pass the amendment when it meets for its annual session next month. Under the 1982 constitution, the president is limited to two five-year terms in office, but Mr Xi - already China’s most powerful leader since Mao - appears to want additional terms to see through his agenda of fighting corruption, eliminating poverty and transforming China into a modern leading nation by the mid-century. Or, some have said, he may simply wish to retain near-absolute power for as long as possible.

Mr Xi has made robust diplomacy and a muscular military postureinthesouthchinasea and elsewhere a hallmark of his style of rule and more can be expected in coming years, experts said.