State-run press praise for president prompts parade of parodies ahead of pivotal party plenary

As Chinese state media ramps up its support for leader Xi Jinping ahead of a pivotal plenary of Communist Party figures next week, Twitter users have satirised the gushing praise.

This is a man of determination and action, a man of profound thoughts and feelings, a man who inherited a legacy but dares to innovate, a man who has forward-looking vision and is committed to working tirelessly https://t.co/cr8e45TvE8 pic.twitter.com/f5hG1r5Tdi
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) November 6, 2021

Around 400 party members on the Central Committee will gather in Beijing for a closed-door meeting from Monday until Thursday ahead of next year’s 20th party congress.

This is a man of determination and action, a man of profound thoughts and feelings, a man who inherited a legacy but dares to innovate, a man who has forward-looking vision and is committed to working tirelessly pic.twitter.com/wzlkG4wkfo
— Archie (@ArcherMail) November 6, 2021

Xi’s ambition to rule for life and achieve a status similar to his predecessor Mao Zedong is likely to be cemented at the 2022 meeting.

CCP 100 years July 1, 2021Beijing Xi Jinping — Chinese leader Xi Jinping gives a speech on July 1, 2021 as the Chinese Communist Party celebrates its centenary. Photo: RTHK screenshot.

This is a man of determination and action, a man of profound thoughts and feelings, a man who inherited a legacy but dares to innovate, a man who has forward-looking vision and is committed to working tirelessly. pic.twitter.com/81R0bUHCRx
— Antony Dapiran (@antd) November 6, 2021

“This is a man of determination and action, a man of profound thoughts and feelings, a man who inherited a legacy but dares to innovate, a man who has forward-looking vision and is committed to working tirelessly,” a tweet from state-run news wire Xinhua said.

This is a man of determination and action, a man of profound thoughts and feelings, a man who inherited a legacy but dares to innovate, a man who has forward-looking vision and is committed to working tirelessly. pic.twitter.com/JA9o2mqeyv
— DEDenver🇺🇸🌊 (@EZLVSZ) November 7, 2021

Another post quoting Xi as saying: “I want to love the people like I love my parents.”

Find yourself a partner who loves you the way Xinhua loves the way Xi Jinping loves the people the way he loves his parents https://t.co/mbWucoWk21
— Laurel Chor (@laurelchor) November 6, 2021

The posts attracted ridicule from China watchers, journalists and academics on Twitter. “Find yourself a partner who loves you the way Xinhua loves the way Xi Jinping loves the people the way he loves his parents,” tweeted journalist Laurel Chor.

This is a man of determination and action, a man of profound thoughts and feelings, a man who inherited a legacy but dares to innovate, a man who has forward-looking vision and is committed to working tirelessly. pic.twitter.com/3XwdtW4hfq
— Lindsey Miller (@LindseyMiller87) November 7, 2021

Others pointed to other men “of determination and action,” such as Robocop, Winnie the Pooh, Jeff Bezos, Doraemon, Donald Trump, and the dog which features in the “I am fine” room-of-flames meme.

This is a man of determination and action, a man of profound thoughts and feelings, a man who inherited a legacy but dares to innovate, a man who has forward-looking vision and is committed to working tirelessly. pic.twitter.com/c8RNcfp5Gi
— Matthew Brooker (@mbrookerhk) November 6, 2021

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