Post #3538151

2026-07-02 16:44 UTC

Considering the meme originates in China, no. Frankly, I think it’s either mental gymnastics from tankies to defend Xi Jinping or someone arriving late to the Xinnie the Pooh meme and assuming it has its origins in yellow = Chinese, Chinese = Xi Jinping. Here’s some reading on the topic I just did to confirm I had it right and you had it wrong: en.wikipedia.org/…/Censorship_of_Winnie-the-Pooh_…

Replies (2)

@Cowbee@lemmy.ml 2026-07-02 16:50

I’ve read the wiki page, but thanks for linking it again. The fact that the meme originated in China, but spread like wildfire in the west, needs to be examined. Xi Jinping is incredibly popular in China, legitimately so. A picture comparing Xi to Winnie and Obama to Tigger (wonder why?) showed up online. There wasn’t mass protest against Xi Jinping or anything. What then exploded was western usage of the meme, beyond its origins, and in a new context. Largely among the anti-communist right, vile depictions and distortions of Xi Jinping began to take place, creating a racialized caricature. By this point the meme faded away near entirely in China, and instead became a symbol of hatred towards Xi Jinping in particular and the PRC in general in the west. The western obsession with depicting Xi Jinping as a yellow bear is what is racist, and hiding behind the fact that the first iteration of the meme came from China, before it became distorted by the west, is a “get out of jail free” card for racists.

Open ##3538150
@yummygummy@lemmygrad.ml 2026-07-02 16:47

Uses the word “tankie” and uses glowiepedia (both unironically). I’ve seen enough, I sentence you to go back to reddit

Open ##3574891