{"id":1048115,"date":"2021-11-23T11:58:28","date_gmt":"2021-11-23T16:58:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1048115"},"modified":"2021-11-23T11:58:31","modified_gmt":"2021-11-23T16:58:31","slug":"viewers-find-winnie-the-pooh-symbol-of-chinese-anti-communism-in-peng-shuai-selfie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/viewers-find-winnie-the-pooh-symbol-of-chinese-anti-communism-in-peng-shuai-selfie\/","title":{"rendered":"Viewers Find Winnie the Pooh, Symbol of Chinese Anti-Communism, in Peng Shuai Selfie"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fviewers-find-winnie-the-pooh-symbol-of-chinese-anti-communism-in-peng-shuai-selfie%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1048115&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"subheading\">Missing Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai appeared in mysterious photos this weekend that included an image of Winnie the Pooh, who has become a symbol of resistance against communist dictator Xi Jinping, Australia\u2019s ABC News <a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2021-11-23\/why-this-peng-shuai-selfie-is-causing-a-stir-online\/100642160\">reported<\/a> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>The photos surfaced online through a Chinese state propagandist on Twitter, a social media outlet the regime bans most Chinese citizens from using. Shen Shiwei claimed that Peng had posted the images, all of them showing Peng surrounded by stuffed animals, on her WeChat account. WeChat is a Chinese regime-controlled communication app.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>The alleged WeChat photos, along with undated videos from the state propaganda outlet&nbsp;<em>Global Times<\/em> and a bizarre, partially blurred photo of an alleged video conversation with Peng from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), are the only existing evidence at press time that Peng is alive and safe. Peng, a Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion, disappeared this month after posting an explosive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/tennis\/comments\/qmn69a\/full_translation_of_peng_shuais_weibo_post\/\">update<\/a> to Weibo, China\u2019s regime-controlled alternative to Facebook, in which she accused former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of raping her. The post disappeared from Weibo almost immediately, as did Peng from public life.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to accusing Zhang of raping her, she wrote that their first encounter led to a long-term affair apparently tolerated by his wife. Peng repeatedly references her hatred of herself, writing,&nbsp;\u201cI shouldn\u2019t have come into this world, but I didn\u2019t have the courage to die.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The severity of Peng\u2019s apparently grief in the post has left many baffled regarding instances in Chinese regime-controlled media that Peng is simply \u201cfine.\u201d The images posted this weekend appeared to show a happy Peng frolicking among stuffed animals. The images notably made the rounds on WeChat and Twitter, not Weibo, where discussion of Peng\u2019s disappearance has been nearly non-existent.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"8.3333333333333\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Peng Shuai\u2019s WeChat moments just posted three latest photos and said \u201cHappy weekend\u201d. <br \/>Her friend shared the three photos and the screenshot of Peng\u2019s WeChat moments. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tut8CEH6gu\">pic.twitter.com\/tut8CEH6gu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Shen Shiwei\u6c88\u8bd7\u4f1f (@shen_shiwei) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/shen_shiwei\/status\/1461715435385020419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 19, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The image of Peng holding a panda, a creature the Communist Party often uses in its propaganda, also featured in the background a framed photo of Peng with Winnie the Pooh. The appearance of the cartoon character has led some China experts to speculate, ABC News reported on Wednesday, that Peng was actively attempting to tell the world that she remained a hostage. Left unexplained is how such an image evaded Chinese censors, who routinely scrub social media of images of Winnie the Pooh to avoid offending Xi.<\/p>\n<p>Academic China expert \u2013 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/national-security\/2020\/02\/18\/bloomberg-accused-helping-communist-china-suppress-embarrassing-news-stories\/\">victim<\/a> of Chinese censorship via Bloomberg News \u2013 Leta Hong Fincher described the appearance of Pooh in her images as a \u201cdistress signal.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"7.7272727272727\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">China has at times banned images of Winnie the Pooh for looking like Xi Jinping, so these government-released images of Peng Shuai are a distress signal. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WhereIsPengShuai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#WhereIsPengShuai<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/JP3JNOXxH9\">pic.twitter.com\/JP3JNOXxH9<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Dr. Leta Hong Fincher \u6d2a\u7406\u8fbe (@LetaHong) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LetaHong\/status\/1461735738416975878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 19, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Peng also appears wearing Adidas, a brand that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/china\/politics\/article\/3127345\/chinese-boycott-against-nike-and-adidas-over-xinjiang-cotton\">faced<\/a> a short-lived boycott in China this year for announcing it would attempt not to use cotton picked by slaves in China. Xi has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/national-security\/2019\/05\/06\/feds-china-muslim-crackdown-number-detainees-may-have-tripled-less-than-1-year\/\">imprisoned<\/a> millions of members of Muslim ethnic minorities in concentration camps, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2021\/06\/18\/china-launches-campaign-slave-picked-cotton-vogue\/\">shipping<\/a> many to cotton fields to engage in slave labor.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>Chinese communist regime censors <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/national-security\/2017\/07\/17\/winnie-pooh-banned-china-over-comparisons-president\/\">banned<\/a> Pooh in 2017 after a photo of Xi and Obama began circulating on social media alongside an image of Pooh and his cartoon friend Tigger.<\/p>\n<p>The photos compared the tall, slim Obama to Tigger and the short, potbellied Pooh to Xi. Xi\u2019s apparent sensitivity to jokes about his figure emboldened dissidents to substitute Pooh for Xi in critical text and artwork, turning the Pooh image into an international symbol against communism.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>Xi has continued to attempt to censor the honey-loving bear, including outside of China\u2019s borders. In 2018, during a visit by Xi to the country, Spanish authorities <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/national-security\/2018\/11\/30\/winnie-pooh-performer-banished-madrid-avoid-offending-xi-jinping\/\">banished<\/a> a street performer dressed as Winnie the Pooh from Madrid\u2019s Sol Square because Xi\u2019s motorcade was about to pass through.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t make a fuss about it. It was only 20 or 30 minutes. If it\u2019s offensive, I understand that they would ask me to step aside,\u201d the performer said at the time.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7102646\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" readability=\"33\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/winnie-the-pooh.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7102646 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/winnie-the-pooh.png\" alt=\"Chinese communist regime censors banned Pooh in 2017 after a photo of Xi and Obama began circulating on social media alongside an image of Pooh and his cartoon friend Tigger\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Chinese communist regime censors banned Pooh in 2017 after a photo of Xi and Obama began circulating on social media alongside an image of Pooh and his cartoon friend Tigger.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>In contrast, the administration of former President Donald Trump made clear it was aware of the Pooh meme in 2020, when then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2020\/07\/16\/pompeo-denies-knowing-speculation-dogs-winnie-pooh-toy-is-xi-jinping-insult\/\">posted<\/a> a photo on social media of his dog chewing on a Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal \u2013 an image many considered a reference to China.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>More recently, NBA star Enes Kanter wore sneakers on the court with his team, the Boston Celtics, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2021\/10\/25\/nbas-enes-kanter-debuts-anti-communist-tiananmen-square-sneakers\/\">sporting<\/a> an image of himself holding the severed head of Winnie the Pooh, a direct reference to Xi. Kanter launched a campaign this month against the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s extensive&nbsp;list of human rights abuses.<\/p>\n<p>Winnie the Pooh has also begun to surface in critical art specifically demanding safety and freedom for Peng Shuai.<\/p>\n<p>The tennis world has aggressively <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2021\/11\/19\/serena-williams-tennis-world-demand-freedom-for-missing-chinese-champion-peng-shuai\/\">embraced<\/a> Peng\u2019s cause, resulting in nearly every major star in the sport issuing statements expressing concern for her safety. The Women\u2019s Tennis Association (WTA) has threatened to withdraw its business from China, estimated to be worth millions, if Beijing does not adequately address the situation.<\/p>\n<p>WTA chairman Steve Simon has dismissed the bizarre images from this weekend and a strange alleged email from \u201cPeng\u201d published by Chinese regime media as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2021\/11\/18\/womens-tennis-chairman-skeptical-of-all-is-well-email-from-missing-peng-shuai\/\">insufficient<\/a> proof of her safety.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"3.4782608695652\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Where is Peng Shuai?. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/PengShuai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#PengShuai<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CCPChina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CCPChina<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/XiJingping?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#XiJingping<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/pooh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#pooh<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/oUoNSOAY8k\">pic.twitter.com\/oUoNSOAY8k<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 scott_marsh (@Scottie_marsh) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Scottie_marsh\/status\/1461107174311178243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 17, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In contrast, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), scheduled to hold the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in February, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2021\/11\/22\/olympics-organizers-defend-china-with-undated-image-of-missing-tennis-star-peng-shuai\/\">published<\/a> an undated photo that allegedly showed its president, Thomas Bach, speaking to Peng via video call. The IOC claimed Peng was \u201cfine\u201d and would meet Bach for dinner when he arrives in Beijing.<\/p>\n<p>The Chinese Foreign Ministry attempted to ignore the growing calls for Peng\u2019s freedom last week, claiming the issue was not \u201cdiplomatic\u201d and therefore not under its purview. On Tuesday, spokesman Zhao Lijian <a href=\"https:\/\/hongkongfp.com\/2021\/11\/23\/peng-shuai-china-says-row-over-tennis-stars-sexual-assault-claims-deliberately-and-maliciously-hyped-up\/\">changed<\/a> its tone, claiming that those concerned about Peng were \u201cdeliberately and maliciously hyping up\u201d the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Zhao referenced the IOC photo as proof that Peng was free.<\/p>\n<p>The Chinese Communist Party regularly disappears inconvenient people. The U.S. government believes as many as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/national-security\/2019\/05\/06\/feds-china-muslim-crackdown-number-detainees-may-have-tripled-less-than-1-year\/\">3 million<\/a> people have disappeared into concentration camps in the occupied region of East Turkistan, home to the oppressed Uyghur minority.<\/p>\n<p>The most high-profile person China has disappeared recently is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/asia\/2019\/06\/20\/china-claims-ex-interpol-president-confessed-to-taking-over-2-million-in-bribes\/\">Meng Hongwei<\/a>, who was the president of Interpol at the time he vanished in 2018. Meng resurfaced in 2019 in a police hostage video; authorities claimed he was guilty of taking bribes while a public security official in China and hauled him off into China\u2019s abusive prison system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Missing Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai appeared in mysterious photos this weekend that included an image of Winnie the Pooh, who has become a symbol of resistance against communist dictator &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1048115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1048115","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1048115"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1048115\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1048115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1048115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1048115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}