A Chinese social media user was reportedly questioned by police after his physical resemblance to China’s top leader Xi Jinping circulated online, according to screenshots and accounts shared on social media.
According to posts shared by the overseas-based blogger “Li Laoshi Bu Shi Ni Laoshi,” two screenshots indicated that on March 16, images of a Douyin user who resembles Xi had been reposted outside China. He was later asked by police to report to a local station. In one screenshot, the individual wrote: “Who is posting this overseas? Now I’ve been called in to the police station for tea.”
In Chinese political slang, being “invited for tea” refers to informal police questioning, often used in cases involving sensitive speech or activity.
A user identified as “Hua Yang Nian Hua,” who claimed to be familiar with the situation, said the individual’s content had already faced restrictions several months earlier, including comment controls and reduced visibility. “In China, even looking like the emperor can violate a taboo,” the user wrote.
Another commenter claimed the man’s name was Wang Teng.
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Online reactions reflected sarcasm and frustration. Some users described the situation as absurd, while others noted that, unlike names, one’s appearance cannot be changed. One comment read: “So even your looks can get you in trouble.”
Similar cases have been reported in recent years
In January, a Douyin blogger known as “Yang Di Zai Lu Shang” had his account suspended after drawing attention for resembling Xi. Some users joked that he had “a face destined to be banned.”
A Bilibili content creator known as “Tianjin Electric Bro” also faced restrictions on comments and live interactions after his resemblance to Xi triggered online discussion.
Another Douyin personality, “Shaanxi Hammer Bro,” had his livestreaming privileges permanently revoked in April 2025 for the same reason.
Baritone singer Liu Keqing has also reported repeated account suspensions due to his resemblance to Xi. In a social media post titled “The Trouble with My Face,” Liu said he had received warnings and bans over the past five years for what he described as “appearance violations.” He added that he had repeatedly changed profile photos across platforms, and that the restrictions had reduced his income, worsening his family’s financial situation.
Online, some users responded with dark humor. “In China, you might be born committing a crime,” one wrote. Another added: “It’s not just breaking rules, it’s criminal to look like him.”
Separate from these cases, a video circulating online showed a Chinese man appearing to mock Xi Jinping. In the clip, the man said: “You’re lucky because of your father. Without him, you’d be a farmer like me. It’s not that I look down on you, it’s just that you’re not capable.” The video was later removed from Chinese platforms.
In another development, a political commentator using the name “New Highland” wrote on X that a retired Chinese Communist Party official had described internal unease among cadres.
According to the account, the retired official visited Zhejiang province governor Liu Jie during the Lunar New Year and asked whether “something major had happened in Beijing,” citing reports of military convoys heading north after rumors that senior general Zhang Youxia had been detained.
Liu reportedly responded: “Are you all hoping something happens to the boss?” referring to Xi. He added that many people had been asking similar questions in recent days and urged retired officials not to speculate.
The account described what it portrayed as growing concern about political stability within the Chinese Communist Party.
By Li Muzi
