It isn’t news that U.S. consulates in China love to post witty quips on Weibo, but you may not know that Japan’s Asahi Shimbun also partakes in cuteness from time to time. The shut-down of U.S. Consulate Shanghai’s Weibo account has not affected the enthusiasm of other non-Chinese organizations to get in on the action. On July 14, Asahi posted a photo on its Weibo featuring the two Chinese characters for “reincarnation.” The New York Times, itself reincarnated on Weibo (here) after its first account was shuttered, left a snark of solidarity:
asahixxrb: Learning Chinese – good night – oyasumi http://t.cn/zO0P2Er
朝日新闻社官方微博：学中文・晚安・哦呀苏咪 http://t.cn/zO0P2Er
nytimeschina: There was once a V* next to our name, but we did not treasure it… Although compared to U.S. Consulate Shanghai, we’re still pretty lucky… http://t.cn/zWLNOpa
纽约时报中文网精萃 ：曾今有一个V放在我们面前，我们没有珍惜……不过比起上海总领馆，我们算幸运的了…… http://t.cn/zWLNOpa
* “V” denotes a verified account.
Netizens had words from warning for the two foreign outlets:
BinBinBBQ: Soga? First the U.S. Consulate Shanghai reincarnates in the Penguin Empire. Now you’re preparing to become reincarnated?
彬彬BBQ：Soga，原来说的是美帝驻上海总领馆转世到企鹅帝国了，太君也准备转世了？
XiFanvivi: Asahi, be careful!
稀饭vivi：朝日菌你要小心啊！
NaturalCurls_ss: Asahi writes Chinese characters in such a unique style… but still not as good as Sora Aoi’s.
自然卷_ss：朝日君的字好有特色哦。。但是没有苍老师写得好。。
SunsetBoat: Goodnight, Asahi. I hope your words aren’t prophetic.
夕下舟：晚安，朝日君，希望你不要一语成幾
-SanBuHou-: What’s your other account? Might as well tell us now~
-三不猴-：小号是多少？提前说下呗~
MangosteenSeeksEnlightenment: Asahi needs to get ready.
辟支罗汉果：太菌是要做准备了。
Smileblueaqua: Such attitude! You’ve already prepared your own coffin and are ready to become reincarnated!
微笑blueaqua：这心态，都给自己预备好棺材，准备转世了啊
Trouble’ah’trouble: Devil,* all you do is write nonsense all day! What a troublemaker! Be careful you don’t leave the stage with the U.S. imperialists! Hurry and go wash up for bed. Oyasumi!
麻烦啊麻烦：鬼子，你一天到晚乱写乱画，调皮捣蛋嘛，小心和美帝一个下场！快洗洗碎了，哦呀苏咪！
* Devil (鬼子) is an epithet often aimed at Japanese.
PoetChenYoucai: I finally understand! Deleting the U.S. Consulate’s Weibo was payback for the U.S. bombing the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia* all those years ago. You know what they say: It’s never too late for a gentleman to take his revenge.
诗人陈有财:我终于明白了:美领馆微博被删是作为十来年前驻南斯拉夫中国大使馆被美国炸的报复.正所谓君子报仇十年不晚,懂了伐
* Belgrade was the capital of Yugoslavia until the country broke apart in 2006. It is now the capital of Serbia.
LunEn: Helping the American imperialists! You don’t have the slightest feeling of brotherly camaraderie. And now you put up this vain attempt to attract the attention of Chinese people. Your little scheme will never work.
伦恩：你们这帮美帝，一点阶级兄弟之间的情谊都没有，还妄图通过卖萌来吸引中国人民的关注，你们的阴谋是不会得逞的。
LGLMagazineRoom: The New York Times, with “all the news that’s fit to print” in the English-speaking world, is still this pathetic when it faces China!
令狐磊的杂志发现室: 面对中国，那个在英文世界「报道一切值得印刷的新闻」的纽约时报竟然也可怜至此！
Via CDT Chinese. Translation by Little Bluegill.
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