China Insight
“This is Swedish Police!” – Sweden under Fire in China for “Brutal Abuse” of Chinese Tourists
Swedish police drag Chinese tourists out of hotel – some call them thugs, but others say it is the Chinese who were misbehaving.
China Insight
Mbappé, Mao, and the Joke That Shall Not Be Named
Mbappé’s favorite Mao meme sparked major backlash in China. More on what the controversy reveals about political red lines, online humor, and censorship.
RESOU 热搜 | What’s Trending in China, Explained
Here, I briefly unpack the stories making waves on Chinese social media and share what stands out to me. Don’t miss an update: become a subscriber to Eye on Digital China today.
Oh oh oh, Mbappé, all those goals, yet you lost so many points on Chinese social media over the past 48 hours.
Following his 100th goal for Real Madrid during El Clásico and finishing second on Ballon d’Or night, French football player Mbappé is all the talk on Chinese social media — not for his achievements, but for what is seen as crossing a major red line in an online interview.
On Tuesday night, a text came in from Ruixin: “I am wide awake tonight and somehow witnessed live how the footballer Kylian Mbappé was getting blocked and totally canceled on Chinese social media for his comments about Mao Zedong over the past, like, three hours 😅”
I quickly grabbed my phone and saw the flood of Mbappé posts rapidly coming in, and it was clear that people were very cross with him.
Although it was already clear that this might not blow over any time soon, by early Wednesday morning it became painfully clear how the controversy had snowballed. Dongpeng Beverage Group (东鹏), one of the many Chinese companies that signed the famous sportsman as its brand ambassador, publicly stated that it was cutting all commercial ties with Mbappé. Soon, others followed.
Dongpeng Beverage Group (东鹏): the first in a string of companies to cut ties with French footballer Kylian Mbappé.
Mbappé’s fall from grace in China has been sudden and spectacular, like a major avalanche of backlash that unfolded in one night, and it can all be traced back to one segment of an interview the footballer previously did on a French YouTube show (The Bridge) that resurfaced online — initially through Reddit and X, and then on Chinese social media apps, like football platform Dongqiudi (懂球帝).
In that segment, when asked about his favorite meme, Mbappé replied that one of the memes he finds funniest is:
🗣️ “the one where they put my face on some guy, a Chinese dictator. That really makes me laugh, I use it with my friends all the time.”
The interview segment where Mbappé shares his favorite meme: his face photoshopped onto the face of a “Chinese dictator.”
The show, created by Mbappé’s Real Madrid teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni, added the image Mbappé referred to: his face photoshopped on a Mao propaganda visual. It’s part of a series of memes that emerged in 2024 in which Mbappé’s face is edited onto the faces of dictators.1
Chapter Dive
The French Protests, Viewed from China: Five Narratives on Chinese Social Media
From the decline of Europe to historical karma: these 5 narratives reveal how Chinese social media discusses the recent unrest in France.
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Joachim Plahn-Andersson
September 16, 2018 at 3:52 pm
wow…china,the rest of the world is laughing at you….
Eric
September 16, 2018 at 7:12 pm
Really funny bro, I am laughing at how Donald Trump is manhandling the EU with a leash around its neck like a good little doggy.
youstinkofwhitepoop
September 17, 2018 at 12:55 am
why would they go to a Europe anyway if they cant even speak the local language? he can barely speak English let alone Swedish. if you’re gonna go, then you make sure you have a local Swedish guide to meet you there or you go as part of a tour group for safety. you don’t just show up with two old folks if you can’t speak the local language, you’re asking for trouble.
World Traveler
September 17, 2018 at 1:27 pm
> why would they go to a Europe anyway if they cant even speak the local language?
Please tell us, how many tourists going to Africa can speak the local Swahili language?
What’s the percentage of tourists traveling in Japan are fluent in the Japanese language?
Has there been a law requiring all tourists to India to speak and write in Hindi?
Please answer. Thanks !
Ingrid Lindquist
September 17, 2018 at 7:55 am
The place Skogskyrkogården is a metrostation 9 minutes drive from the center of Stockholm. They did not walk into the very beautiful cemetary close to the metro.
It would have been better if the chinese tourists communicated with the police instead of rolling around on the ground yelling. You can see how puzzled the police are. Another solution is that Chinese Embassy could set up a telephone service line to contact so the police could drive them there if the tourists want so. For chinese tourist acting normal there is no problem but if you travel alone you must be able to communicate if you cant its better to travel in a group.
Zoe
September 17, 2018 at 8:03 am
This article acts as though social media accounts are reputable sources…. They’re not. Most of this is just hear say
admin
September 19, 2018 at 5:51 am
What’s on Weibo reports on Chinese social media trends and news media. We clearly state where we used what sources.
Matin Smith
September 17, 2018 at 7:13 pm
ugly chinese every where, they are obnoxious, dirty and greedy people
A.Person
September 18, 2018 at 4:44 am
Martin Smith what a sad and ignorant racist you are. I pity you.
Jerry
September 27, 2018 at 2:45 am
Please don’t make personal attacks. There are many police will help you in English, if you make trouble in China. So if the police can ask politely and gently, maybe it won’t be happened. （Advice from Chinese.）
Michael
September 19, 2018 at 5:14 am
I would recommend updating this piece. As another commenter mentioned, a lot of hearsay seems to have been taken for fact. For some better reportage and details, I recommend http://inbeijing.se/bulletin/2018/09/17/all-the-details-you-need-on-the-chinese-tourists-who-were-brutality-handled-by-swedish-police/, which actually links to this piece. That article contains a lot of information, and video, that would be helpful in updating this article.
admin
September 19, 2018 at 5:54 am
We’ve updated briefly; since we first published this piece on Sunday, the case has now been widely covered in international media with the latest developments. Thanks for the link.
NB
September 19, 2018 at 4:34 pm
you mistranslated the swe embassy statement…
Info@whatsonweibo.com
September 20, 2018 at 4:43 am
Please refresh the page. The translation has been changed on Wednesday, but the browser will cache the website. If you refresh the latest version appears. Regards, admin
Mauricio
September 22, 2018 at 12:05 am
China is helping Maduro in Venezuela. I think that’s worse.
Clive
September 24, 2018 at 8:35 am
What does abuse of Chinese civilians have to do with the Chinese government’s relation with Venezuela?
Alex
October 2, 2018 at 5:54 am
Yup. You guys were brutalized. Not being total assholes like you normally are. Please stay home.