WHO avoids linking a variant to President Xi
The China Letter: December 2nd, 2021
A wild week of stories include wondering why a coronavirus variant won’t be called Xi, the continued mystery surrounding Peng Shuai, the new Hong Kong national security law striking a young protester, plus stories related to companies like JPMorgan Chase, Canada Goose and Dior—and a protest song that’s too hot for Beijing to handle.
Xi won’t be named here
Omicron is the new COVID-19 variant, which originated in southern Africa, but the World Health Organization move to skip two letters in the Greek alphabet in the naming process raised eyebrows. “Nu” was avoided because it sounds like “new.” Xi was evidently skipped because it’s a common surname in China, starting perhaps with the president.
Dick Pound’s dilemma
“I must say I’m really puzzled by that assessment of it,” said International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound in response to reaction to IOC claims of a pleasant video conference with tennis star Peng Shuai. Calls for an international boycott of Beijing’s 2022 Winter Games have gotten louder due to Peng’s mysterious disappearance.
Digging for violations
Several of Tony Chung’s online posts that are illegal under the new national security law dated from before the legislation took effect in June 2020, which undermines the original pledge from Hong Kong that the rules wouldn’t be retroactively applied. But they were used in a case against the 20-year-old activist now sentenced to 43 months.
The big price of joking
““I was just in Hong Kong and I made a joke that the Communist Party is celebrating its hundredth year. So is JPMorgan. I’d make you a bet we last longer,” quipped its CEO Jamie Dimon. “I can’t say that in China. They probably are listening anyway.” And that’s the kind of comment that Beijing’s state media can push an apology into happening.
Playing parka politics
China denied it was targeting Canadian businesses for political reasons after it fined Canada Goose for misleading advertising earlier this fall. Since then, the luxury parka maker has grown in popularity. The brand became the top trending topic on Weibo across China as the regulator’s decision recirculated just in time for winter shopping.
Artist eyed with shame
“I blame myself for my immaturity and ignorance,” wrote Chinese fashion photographer Chen Man in response to outrage over a “small eyes” campaign she shot for the French luxury brand Dior. State media had amplified the social media criticism for her work.
Famous and “Fragile”
The warning list of Chinese internet personalities reported and registered for their bad behaviour was released with 88 names. Also recently banned by Beijing is a popular song by Malaysian rapper Namewee and Australian singer Kimberly Chen. “Fragile” satirizes the current slate of social issues including the status of Taiwan:
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