Censorship of Winnie-the-Pooh in China
China's ban on Winnie-the-Pooh due to Internet memes
Beginning in July 2017, the government of the People's Republic of China restricted satirical memes comparing Xi Jinping, the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), to the anthropomorphic teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh, particularly Disney's depiction. The CCP reportedly viewed such comparisons as a ridicule and symbolic dissent. There is no comprehensive prohibition on content related to the character. Other images of the character can be readily found on the Internet in China, books and merchandise remain available, and two Winnie the Pooh-themed attractions continue to operate at Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland.
Background
Censorship in China
The CCP engages in extensive censorship of topics it considers dissident or politically sensitive. Examples include the violence of the Cultural Revolution, the Falun Gong movement, the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, and issues related to the Uyghurs, Tibet, and Taiwan.
There is no comprehensive prohibition on all content related to the character Winnie-the-Pooh. Books and merchandise remain available, and two Winnie-the-Pooh-themed attractions continue to operate at Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland. Academic Michel Hockx summarizes: "Winnie-the-Pooh is literally all over the Internet in China, as well as in toy stores, theme parks, and so on."
Comparisons between Xi Jinping and Winnie-the-Pooh
Chinese Internet users have compared Xi Jinping, the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, to Winnie-the-Pooh to satirize his public persona. Xi projects a serious public image, whereas Winnie-the-Pooh is a children's fictional character.
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