All Articles

China.Table

Jiang Zemin Pop-Kultur

Long live the toad: Jiang Zemin in China's pop culture

Jiang Zemin had gained cult status in recent years, especially among China's young Internet users. The toad, as they fondly called him, represents for them a self-ironic, cosmopolitan China that has been lost under his successors Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping.

By Fabian Peltsch

CHINA, BEIJING - NOVEMBER 27, 2022: People take part in a protest against COVID-19 restrictions. China is witnessing another series of local COVID-19 outbreaks that have caused the authorities to implement a zero-COVID policy, including partial lockdowns and mass testing. Stringer/TASS PUBLICATIONxINxGERxAUTxONLY 56116649

Protest symbol: blank white paper

How do you protest in a country where protesting is basically forbidden? In a country where hashtags and search keywords are being blocked within a few hours? The Chinese solve the problem with creativity and irony: with a blank white sheet of paper.

By Michael Radunski

Charles Michel's difficult mission in Beijing

Amid protests against zero-Covid, the EU Council chief travels to China. The timing for the first personal handshake in years is problematic. For President Xi, however, the photo opportunity comes at just the right time, as the EU-US dialogue on China is being held in Washington at almost the same time. For Michel, however, a "mission impossible" awaits him in China.

By Amelie Richter