Amid tensions between Taiwan and China, a patch depicting Winnie the Pooh receiving a powerful punch from a Taiwanese black bear has become an internet hit in the island nation. The motif is a dig at China, because the somewhat clumsy cartoon character Winnie the Pooh is often used to make fun of Chinese President Xi Jinping because of his alleged resemblance.
The patch could be seen in a photo published by the Taiwan Ministry of Defense on Saturday. A Luftwaffe pilot wears the motif on his uniform. Facebook was quickly flooded with requests for the Pooh patch, which retailed for 200 Taiwan dollars. The patches are now sold out.
China held a three-day military maneuver off Taiwan in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the United States, demonstrating its military might. The Taipei government released photos and videos that also claim to be proof of the Taiwanese military’s effectiveness.
Since the political split between mainland China and Taiwan in 1949, Beijing has viewed the island as a breakaway territory that it intends to reunite with the mainland, if necessary using military force.
