As a symbol of Taiwan's defiance against China's military exercises, the Taiwanese public is clamoring to purchase air force pilot patches that depict a Formosan black bear punching Winnie the Pooh, a character often used to represent China's President Xi Jinping.
The increased interest in the patches comes as China commences three days of military drills around Taiwan, following President Tsai Ing-wen's brief visit to the United States.
Chinese censors have consistently targeted portrayals of Winnie the Pooh due to internet memes that liken the character to China's president. Alec Hsu, the designer of the patch, has sold it in his store since last year. However, he noticed a surge in orders after a picture of the patch on a pilot's arm was published by Taiwan's military news agency.
"I wanted to boost the morale of our troops through designing this patch," Hsu said, noting that he has ordered additional patches to meet the growing demand. Customers include both military officers and civilians.
The patch features an angry Formosan black bear, a symbol of Taiwanese identity, holding Taiwan's flag and striking Winnie the Pooh. The slogan "Scramble!" appears on the patch, referring to the increased frequency of Taiwan's pilots taking to the skies in response to China's incursions into Taiwan's air defense identification zone over the past three years.
Taiwan's air force has stated that while it does not "particularly encourage" its members to wear the patch, which is not part of their official uniform, it "will maintain an open attitude" toward anything that raises morale.
Tsai's government in Taiwan refuses China's claims of sovereignty over the island, asserting that only the people of Taiwan can determine their future. While the Winnie the Pooh patch cannot be found on Chinese social media, Beijing has been promoting videos and commentary about its drills around Taiwan.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command, which would spearhead any military action against Taiwan, released a video on Monday showcasing scenes from the exercise, set to upbeat music and targeting a Taiwanese audience by using traditional Chinese characters.