‘Friend of China’ Hugo Chávez Dies, Chinese Netizen Reactions

Major Chinese web portal NetEase posted an article about Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez’s recent passing, as well as several photo features commemorating him as a “friend to the Chinese people”…

From NetEase

China’s Old Friend Hugo Chavez

Venezuelan Vice-President Nicolas Maduro announced on March 5th that President Hugo Chavez passed away at 4:25pm local time on the 5th, at the age of 58. Before his death, Chavez had visited China multiple times, actively promoting China-Venezuela economic trade. He liked reading Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and held Mao Zedong Thought in esteem, and was regarded as an old friend of the Chinese people.

[Above] 2006 August 27, Taishan, Shandong Province, China: Venezuelan President Chávez says a prayer.

2001 April 17, Carreño Cultural Complex: Chinese President Jiang Zemin (right) shakes hands with Venezuelan President Chávez.

2006 August 24, Great Hall of the People, Beijing: At a signing ceremony, Venezuelan President Chávez (left) gives a thumbs-up to Chinese President Hu Jintao.

2006 August 24, Great Hall of the People, Beijing: At a signing ceremony, Venezuelan President Chávez (left) and Chinese President Hu Jintao drink a toast.

2006 August 24, Great Hall of the People, Beijing: At a welcoming ceremony, Venezuelan President Chávez and Chinese President Hu Jintao (right) inspect the honor guard.

2001 April 15, Simón Bolívar International Airport, Venezuela: Chinese President Jiang Zemin (left) attends a welcoming ceremony held by Venezuelan President Chávez.

2009 April 9, Beijing: Xi Jinping meets Venezuelan President Chávez at the Diaoyu Islands National Guesthouse. Photo credit: Xinhua reporter Li Tao

2011 November 24, Caracas, Venezuela: Venezuelan President Chávez (left) displaying a copy of Mao Zedong’s [Little Red Book] while meeting Chinese National Development and Reform Committee Deputy Secretary Zhang Xiaoqiang.

2011 November 24, Caracas, Venezuela: Venezuelan President Chávez (left) reading Mao Zedong’s [Little Red Book] while meeting Chinese National Development and Reform Committee Deputy Secretary Zhang Xiaoqiang. Venezuela’s Energy Secretary stated, Chinese companies would soon enter into joint-ventures with another four Venezuelan petroleum companies.

2011 November 24, Caracas, Venezuela: Venezuelan President Chávez (center), Venezuelan Commerce Secretary (left) and Chinese National Development and Reform Committee Deputy Secretary Zhang Xiaoqiang (right) shake hands. Venezuela’s Energy Secretary stated, Chinese companies would soon enter into-joint ventures with another four Venezuelan petroleum companies.

1999 October 11, Badaling, Beijing: Venezuelan President Chávez walks along the Great Wall together with tourists.

2012 February 10, Caracas, Venezuela: at Mira Flores Palace, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez (left) speaking with a group of engineers training to operate the Miranda satellite.

2008 September 24, Beijing: During a high-level Chinese-Venezuelan committee meeting, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez holds his hand out in a gesture of greeting.

2010 September 21, Caracas, Venezuela: at Ahe state-run Bicentenario [Bicentennial] supermarket, a pregnant woman learns more about home appliances imported from China.

2011 December 14, Caracas, Venezuela: Imported motorcycles from China parked outside the Keeway factory. At that time, China approved trading for petroleum through “gear loans” in Venezuela.

Comments on NetEase:

网易广东省梅州市网友 [拈花o笑]：

[Written backwards] Good that he died.

王二门下走狗 [网易美国网友]：(responding to above)

[Written backwards] When will Fatty No. 3 [Kim Jong Un] croak?

人在台湾跨省唔效 [网易广东省佛山市网友]：(responding to above)

[Written backwards] I’m guessing soon…

jhggghk [网易广东省广州市番禺区网友]：

Chávez didn’t eliminate the opposition party, didn’t ban freedom of public assembly, congregations, or demonstrations, and he didn’t do away with private property. He didn’t restrict speech, he was elected by means of democracy, one vote at a time, and under the socialism he implemented, the vast majority of petroleum income was evenly distributed among the citizens, allowing all citizens to enjoy the wealth of the state equally, May I ask how could the ordinary people not support a leader like this? America [the USA] dislikes Chávez, but why didn’t they dare move [against] him? Because Chávez’s rise occurred entirely through organization, debate, demonstration, and voting. It was entirely American-style and entirely in accordance with the national constitution. It’s was only his economics were socialist and his politics were anti-American! If this is also socialism, I support it also!

网易广东省网友 [火神仙]: (responding to above)

Chávez’s democracy was merely a false democracy.

网易江苏省南京市网友 [小儿止咳化痰糖浆]: (responding to above)

Ahmadinejad was also [raised to power] by election, a bit more democratic than TC and North Korea.

网易天津市网友: (responding to above)

The democracy advocated by American dogs is the democracy of government bigwigs, capitalists, and rich people, so it will never succeed! Hahaahaha

网易湖北省武汉市网友 [陵墓碑]: (responding to above)

Dare I ask upstairs [previous poster], if you were struck dead by a wealthy person, I mean, with eyewitnesses, how many years do you think he would get [in prison]?

网易重庆市网友 [billboeing]: (responding to above)

Three penalty drinks

网易山东省威海市网友 [jsyuan888] ：

Nonsense, this stupid cunt is the friend of Chinese traitors and gangsters [referring to the Chinese government], without a single bit of connection [relevance] to Chinese people.

弗里德木 [网易北京市网友]： (responding to above)

What NetEase said was “China’s Friend”, not the Chinese people’s friend. You understand.

谈笑桃源 [网易江西省新余市网友]：

Chávez is gone, China’s old friends are getting fewer and fewer.

UfO20061676 [网易广西南宁市网友]：

Basically all dictators are old friends of “the Chinese people”

第一垃圾时代 [网易辽宁省抚顺市网友]：

I’ve been represented [spoken for] again, [saying] I’m good friends with Chávez, actually I really dislike him.

What do you think of Hugo Chavez?