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Dec 9 15 tweets 10 min read
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
He's casual and friendly throughout, but Chinese factotums are in the habit of scribbling down the leader's words as they do with Xi. ImageImageImageImage
Wang Yang runs a fairly casual meeting, and Han Zheng zooms it in.

Xi need only to look at CCTV to know what all potential rivals are doing in his absence. ImageImageImageImage
Perhaps most formidable in ability, and unassuming in looks is Wang Qishan, who talks to global business leaders such as Richard Li, Pony Ma, Richard Schwarzman... ImageImageImageImage
Tim Cook of Apple and Ho Ching of Temasak Trust. ImageImageImage
Covid protocols relaxed. Numbers way down (no one's testing)
Chinese traditional medicine is touted as first choice for mild and asymptomatic cases. ImageImageImageImage
CPI nudges up a bit, but not like this new rocket, successfully launched from a mobile platform at sea ImageImageImageImage
China's homemade passenger jet unveiled Image
And it bombs away, as Russia zooms across the skies of Ukraine, all footage courtesy of Moscow. ImageImageImageImage
Russia launches more missiles...

Ukraine fights back. ImageImage
But it's really the Pentagon that is the source of all troubles, for it is adding oil to the flames in Ukraine and wrecking the world economy with sanctions. ImageImageImageImage
Even Japan's economy has taken a serious hit. Image

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More from @jinpeili

Dec 11
CCTV FOLLIES 12.11 Jiang's good riddance

Xi Jinping had no time for Jiang Zemin once he obtained power himself. His predecessor endured a kind of high-end house arrest under media blackout but now that he's dead, Xi's CCP is pulling out all the stops to show how much it cares. ImageImageImageImage
The first 9 minutes of Xinwen Lianbo are thus dedicated to a man who couldn't get a second of his own air time during his long sequestered retirement, but now he's no longer a threat. The real threat is any unrest in the wake of his passing and CCP is putting a full stop to that. Image
CCTV documents in almost clinical detail the journey of a box of bones from a memorial room in Zhongnanhai to a chute on a boat off Shanghai, from the center of CCP power to the sea. Image
Read 21 tweets
Dec 11
Xiaoliang, the artist who did this warm digital rendering of Peng Lifa based on a photograph, is reportedly himself in trouble. This now famous picture, posted on Oct 15, was his last post.

He is said to be in detention for "picking quarrels and making trouble"
Xiao Liang, an artist from Nanchang, was arrested. Image
Xiao Liang's Twitter account contains some beautiful digital renderings of famous people and interesting faces.

Xiao Liang's support for Ukraine, which conflicts with Beijing's policy, and his opposition to Russian invasion, which Beijing has yet to acknowledge, is plain to see. Image
Read 19 tweets
Dec 10
CCTV FOLLIES 12.10 Xi gives speech at Arab summit.

Chinese state TV would have you believe this is the moment the world has been waiting for.... Image
The top of the news today is the amazing speech given by Xi Jinping to the assembled Arab states.

The much-heralded speaker is here shown arriving. ImageImageImageImage
MBS greets him at the door like a valued guest...

(But Xi doesn't get to stand in the middle, MBS does.) ImageImageImage
Read 32 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
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.
The arrival of the foreign VIP is trumpeted.
Prime Minister MBS greets Xi
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

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