This week, Drawing the News showcases political cartoons on the anti-Japan protests, CCTV’s attempt at populism and official corruption:
Artist: Rebel Pepper (via Over the Wall)
Rebel Pepper comments on the vigor of recent anti-Japan protests following Japan’s purchase of three of the Diaoyu Islands. He notes that the mob’s reaction to Japan mirrors perennial anger with the “Old Monk” (the Dalai Lama). When pro-Tibet demonstrations hounded Olympic torchbearers in 2008, Heilongjiang provincial websites were instructed to direct patriotic discussions at the “Dalai clique’s secessionist forces.”
Artist: Kuang Biao
Anti-Japan protesters can be as viciously patriotic as they wish, but they are not permitted to inject any domestic issues into their list of demands. The dispute is a convenient distraction from the evergreen problems of poverty and corruption in China. “Patriotic fervor” won’t improve people’s lives any more than a little Chinese flag will help a beggar on the street.
Artist: David 8th Generation (via AmazeNews)
CCTV’s flagship evening news show, Xinwen Lianbo (News Simulcast), just announced an updated format which will include more “people’s voices” (民生) in its reporting. David 8th Generation (@大家画大卫8世) drew this cartoon to “congratulate” Xinwen Lianbo on the change. The eye at the top represents the show’s current programming. The format change will not open anyone’s eyes.
Artist: Sinking Stone
“Watch Brother” Yang Dacai lost his job after smiling at the scene of a horrific truck crash and brandishing multiple luxury watches. Consciously or not, he is now pulling other officials down with him. Sinking Stone imagines a sinister Kungfu Panda, ready to pounce from his perch atop a government stamp and then hightail it to the U.S. with his green card. “What goes around comes around,” reads the caption. “Who doesn’t own a few watches?”
“Subconsciously striking you is like swatting a fly!” exclaims the cartoon version of Liaoning police officer Zhang Yan. Zhang and a crew of construction workers battled a farming family at the scene of a forced demolition in the town of Panjin. One villager, Wang Shujie, allegedly set himself on fire and rushed at Zhang with a sickle. Zhang then says he “subconsciously fired his gun” six times, killing Wang. Cradled in Zhang’s broken arm, Rebel Pepper will have none of it.
Irene Hsiao contributed translation.
