After Winnie-the-Pooh, China rushes to mute memes and puns targeting Xi

China is cracking down on ‘uncivilised language’, puns, and homophones online, prompting concerns that it could erode whatever room is available to the citizens for discussing sensitive topics without attracting any penalty. The Cyberspace Administration of China and the ministry of education announced earlier this month that they were launching the “clear and bright” campaign in order to target “irregular and uncivilised” language.

It could mean that puns, memes, satires, jokes and wordplay may no longer be allowed on Chinese internet, something that Chinese netizens employ to discuss taboo topics such as Tiananmen massacre or criticism of President Xi Jinping.

Earlier, an editorial by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) said the jargons and memes were causing too much confusion online. “For some time, various internet jargons and memes have appeared frequently, leaving people more and more confused,” read the editorial. “They also form a hidden erosion on the daily communication and ideological values ​​of minors, which can easily lead to adverse consequences,” it added, while making a case for the forthcoming restrictions.

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Chinese internet is heavily regulated and monitored, where discussions targeting any individual, especially the CCP leaders, are censored and muted. Users over the years have developed ways to circumvent these restrictions, putting their creativity to use and relying more and more on homophones, puns and satire.

For example, people would use the word “paratrooper” (sǎn bīng) instead of “idiot” (shǎ bī) and more words that sound very similar in Mandarin but were written with different Chinese characters.

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It’s usual for Chinese authorities to mute discussions about Xi Jinping, even when his name is not even mentioned. Previously, Chinese authorities banned references to Winnie-the-Pooh because of suggestions that Xi resembles the character. Similarly, authorities also cracked down on phrase “your country”, which implied the protesters were not associating themselves with the CCP’s country.

(With inputs from agencies)