Communist Party of China after Mocking India’s COVID Deaths Faces Backlash

 

An Official social media account linked to the Communist Party of China (CPC) was attacked in China over the weekend by mocking the deaths of Indian people COVID-19 on social media.

This post was shared on Weibo, equivalent to Twitter in China, via an account held by the PCC’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, a powerful governing body of courts and police.

The account, with 15 million followers, in a message on Saturday shared two photos near the launch of rockets in China and a crematorium in India, adding the message: "China is on fire, India is on fire".

The Unusual step

When the message first became viral, it sparked outrage in China's social media with insensitivity, which led to a group-related account taking the unusual step of removing the activity.

Dong Mengyu, a researcher, said on Twitter that one blogger wrote an article in response, “I apologize to the people of India for me. Posted by Weibo's [Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission] account does not represent me. We live on the same planet ... We feel your suffering. "That article, Mr Dong said, was later removed.

The original post, reported Manya Koetse of What’s on Weibo, a website that tracks social media styles in China, was shared 9,000 times before it was removed. It was not the only time when an official account mocking the state of Covid-19 India - another Weibo account linked to the Department of Community Safety, a senior police officer, shared the same message.

Improper comparisons

Both of these posts have sparked ridicule, at a time when Chinese social organizations have begun efforts to raise funds to help India, including some prominent Buddhist organizations.

One extensive communication account has been maintained by attorney Wang Peng, Ms. “All countries are at risk! Not to mention that during the epidemic, all countries are involved, ”he was quoted as saying. "From the point of view of propaganda, this is a case of failure of propaganda," added another. "This does not fit the official account, it does not represent the Chinese people."