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Why are people ‘becoming Chinese’ on social media?
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Experts say that “being Chinese” memes may signal China’s growing soft power abroad.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: UNSPLASH
Yan Zhuang
If you drink hot water, wear slippers indoors or shop at Asian supermarkets, you may be Chinese, according to the internet.
You might be thinking, “I’m not Chinese”, but your race is beside the point. Think of “being Chinese” as more of an absurdist joke, a wellness goal or a subtle, ironic expression of protest. Or all of the above.
