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Dec 7 28 tweets 19 min read
CCTV FOLLIES 12.07 A day of meetings
-Spirit of 20th congress spreads like a prairie fire
-All parties, ethnic groups, youth, seniors heed the call
-Next year is year of the "20th spirit"
-Russia still blowing things up in Ukraine
-US humiliated by power blackout in N. Carolina Image
The first eight minutes of the news is unbearably boring, just a long readout, but it's got Xi's thumbprint in every inch of it, so there's that.
In short, implementation of "spirit of 20th." ImageImageImageImage
Meeting in Zhongnanhai shows where these exceedingly bureaucratic ideas originate. Image
Everyone is wearing a mask except for Xi ImageImageImage
In other news (other meetings) Li Keqiang has an intimate chat with Russian counterpart via Zoom.
(This "close" but "far" dynamic encapsulates the Sino-Russia relationship quite well) ImageImageImageImage
And now, in breaking news....
More meetings...
Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party stages an orchestrated meeting. ImageImageImage
As does the "Taiwan" "Democratic" "Self-Government" League

(scare quotes added by author)

Wang Huning addresses this "authentic" Taiwan party. ImageImageImage
And there are other meetings in Hunan and around the nation spreading the good word of the "20th." ImageImage
The exciting news of the epoch-making "spirit of the 20th" promoted by "new era" Xi Jinping spreads around China like a wildfire as communist youth league, rural workers and minorities get in on the act. ImageImageImageImage
From the coconut groves of Hainan to tea plantations, the word is out. The victorious 20th party congress!
Xi is leading China into a new era!

Knowledgeable party member shares the good news with tea-pickers in their traditional minority outfits ImageImageImageImage
Young people around China are galvanized to serve the party.
Workers put down their hammers and tools for a study session on the job. ImageImageImageImage
From schools to factories, getting the word out. ImageImageImage
Finally, a tidbit of with a scent of news.

Covid policy is loosening in order not to damage the economy, and the CCP is still looking after your best interests, so it's still a pretty much perfect policy. ImageImageImage
CCTV often uses fresh produce shots to illustrate prevention measures; the idea that Covid is spread through fish, vegetables, fruit etc persists as a notion, at least in TV visuals. ImageImageImageImage
Stacks of gold coins getting higher, arrows all pointing up. In a nutshell, things are getting better all the time.

(despite indications to the contrary) ImageImageImage
Didn't get enough meeting shots in the first half hour?
CCTV has got you covered. Here's the so-called "KMT" meeting in progress, pushing for reunification of course. ImageImage
And Macao is no exception. The casino magnates etc gather in a show of loyalty to "elect" leaders acceptable to Beijing. ImageImageImage
And then there's a plug for a new TV drama near the end of the news.
"Xianwei Dayuan"
Standard patriotic pro-party fare?
Only time will tell. ImageImageImage
And now it's over to Moscow which has apparently been subcontracted by CCTV to provide all Ukraine news: Image
More rockets and missiles bursting in air...
What prowess... ImageImageImageImage
Russian Defense Ministry presents: ImageImageImageImage
Attack helicopters in action... ImageImage
But stubborn Ukraine fights back. Image
FM Sergey Lavrov is not in a good mood. He's mad at NATO for making Russia do what it's doing in Ukraine and it gets him mad.
It's so unfair!
Russia has a right to defend itself!

(Stock footage of NATO troops "attacking" provided by CCTV) ImageImageImage
US hegemony caused the Russia-Ukraine conflict... Image
CCTV shows its double-edged humanitarian side. It's really concerned about the attack that caused a power outage in North Carolina affecting some 30,000 people.

Not a word on the Russian bombing of Ukraine's power grid putting millions in darkness and without heat for the winter ImageImageImageImage
CCTV's solicitude for UK shoppers affected by recession would be more believable if they showed some care for the 100,000 Ukrainians killed by their Russian partners under command of Xi's close friend Putin. ImageImageImage

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More from @jinpeili

Dec 9
CCTV FOLLIES 12.09 (continued)

In Riyadh, China talks, Africa listens.
Here Xi is meeting with head of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan ImageImage
Kuwait knows the routine:
"China is a great country. Let me congratulate Chairman Xi on winning a new term... ImageImageImageImage
Meanwhile, back in China, Li Keqiang is coming into his own as a spirited leader. Image
Read 15 tweets
Dec 9
CCTV FOLLIES 12.09 Xi Jinping in Arabia

-Motorcade with Saudi characteristics
-Audience within an audience
-Xi hemmed in by Saudi protocol
-Like a fish out of water
-Xi regains his mojo in meetings with Egypt, Palestine Image
The December 9 news opens with a Xi motorcade, but this one is a little different. Motorcycles accompany his car from the airport to Riyadh, after which the Saudi cavalry takes over. ImageImageImageImage
The arrival of the foreign VIP is trumpeted.
Prime Minister MBS greets Xi ImageImageImage
Read 21 tweets
Dec 8
Despite the "royal" welcome, Xi appears to have been wrong-footed by his hosts in Saudi Arabia. Image
He falls for the oldest trick in the book.
It's test of wills to see who forces who to step forward.
Xi loses.
MBS watches with a grin. Image
A hesitant double clap.
Not exactly the kind of enthusiastic applause that usually greets Xi Image
Read 4 tweets
Dec 8
CCTV FOLLIES 12.08 King for a day
-Xi descends from the sky to alight in Saudi Arabia
-Full ceremonials and pomp fit for a king
-In Xi's absence, Li Keqiang is number one big boss
-Cai Qi also gets a whiff of glory
-Russia tells it like it is in Ukraine Image
In an opening reminiscent of "Triumph of the Will" the man of destiny gazes down upon the earth as his craft slowly descends towards its destination. Image
His jet is soon accompanied by other jets flying in tribute to his munificence, power and grace, letting loose streamers of smoke as the big jet lands in Riyadh. ImageImageImage
Read 26 tweets
Dec 6
CCTV FOLLIES 12.06 Great Hall Memorial
-Xi dominates dull proceedings with half-hour rote speech read in slow motion.
-Delegates can be seen looking at watches
-Russia shooting rockets at Ukraine
-Ukraine strikes Russian airfield
-Volcanoes around the world
Read 23 tweets
Dec 5
The Shenzhou 14 crew flies back to Beijing after a successful mission but needs ground assist to get out of plane since they've been in zero-gravity for half a year. ImageImageImage
China's space program is on a roll. A new crew, ferried to the Tiangong space station by the Shenzhou 15 capsule atop a Long March rocket, is now in space. ImageImage
Read 10 tweets

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