Archive - What’s on Weibo Brief – by Manya Koetse

Why the Chinese Internet Exploded over a Pair of Earrings

Online sleuths connect emerald earrings to post-earthquake business ties—sparking official investigations.

May 27 •

and

Behind the Mysterious Death of Chinese Internet Celebrity Cat Wukong

“Dont believe the media,” Zhao Shuo said: “And also don’t believe me.”

May 14 •

China Is Not Censoring Its Social Media to Please the West

How Western media sometimes guesses Beijing’s stance by reading between the wrong lines.

May 7 •

April 2025

Trade War Meets Fairy Tale: China’s Latest Trump Nickname

From "Comrade Trump" to the "Tariff Beauty," Trump has many nicknames on Chinese social media.

Apr 22 •

March 2025

Squat or Sit? China's Great Toilet Debate and the Problem of Footprints on the Seat

From squatting to standing on seats: the messy reality of sitting toilets in Beijing malls.

Mar 25 •

The 315 Gala: A Night of Scandals, A Year of Distrust

From sanitary pads to shrimp: these were 315 Gala’s biggest scandals. It’s business as usual.

Mar 17 •

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