Simple irony or real sign of defiance? In recent days, soldiers in the Taiwanese army have started wearing a funny patch on their uniforms, representing a bear from Taiwan punching Winnie the Pooh. This iron-on badge, which Taiwanese can get for 6 euros, was interpreted by Internet users as a trait of humor and a sign of defiance aimed at Xi Jinping. The Chinese president is often mocked for his physical resemblance, some say, to the famous honey-loving cartoon character.
” It’s incredible. It’s the happiest thing in recent days,” exclaimed netizen Mark Sasha Liang on Facebook. “Wear this to go through Chinese customs,” quipped Chen Kai-chu, another user.
China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, conducted major military maneuvers around the island for three days, simulating attacks and a blockade, to protest against a trip to the United States by the president of Taiwan. Tsai Ing-wen.
A pilot is there, inspecting a fighter plane and wearing a patch on the sleeve of his jacket where a Formosan black bear punches Winnie the Pooh, the Taiwanese flag in its other paw.
Two of the badges feature the word “Scramble!” (“Fight”) at the bottom, with one saying “Fight for freedom.”
A third patch drawn in 2022 shows a Taiwanese military pilot punching a panda, a national symbol in China. It was produced on the occasion of similar military maneuvers conducted by China last August after the visit to Taipei of then-Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
Taiwanese rushed to buy the badges bearing the image of Winnie the Pooh, marketed for 200 Taiwanese dollars (6 euros) by the company Wings Fan Goods, established in Taoyuan (North), where they are now out of stock of stock.
A Facebook user selling the crests, who asked to be identified as Wizardgeo, reported receiving some 1,000 orders since the image went viral over the weekend.
Most requests come from Taiwan, but others come from mainland China and Hong Kong, he said.