Tensions between China and Taiwan continue to grow, especially due to President Tsai Ing-wen’s transit stops in the United States last week. In response to the increasing frequency of China’s military exercises, some Taiwanese soldiers have started wearing patches that poke fun at their Chinese counterparts.
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A recent photo posted by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has caught the public’s eye. It depicts a Taiwanese pilot inspecting a fighter jet, but eagle-eyed viewers noticed a new colorful patch on his arm.
The patch shows a picture of a Formosan black bear holding a Taiwanese flag and punching Winnie Pooh, who is holding a honey pot with five stars, symbolizing the Chinese flag. Chinese leader Xi Jin-ping (習近平) has been compared to Winnie the Pooh, prompting censorship of the cartoon character in China.
The patch’s designer Hsu Fu-yu (徐福佑) says he created the design in response to China’s incessant military drills last year that put Taiwan’s military on high alert. He says military officers and his customers supported the patch’s design.
Another patch design shows a Taiwanese pilot slapping a Chinese panda, in reference to American actor Will Smith’s outburst at the Oscars ceremony last year. Hsu says certain parts of air force uniforms are reserved for official badges, but soldiers have more freedom to decorate their left sleeve.
Taiwanese military research fellow Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲) says wearing personal badges can boost morale if it is not in conflict with military protocol. He says some countries like the United States even allow military pilots to paint personalized symbols on their jets.
Although cross-strait politics remains tense, patches like these show that you can support the military with a sense of humor.