During the National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, also known as the “Two Sessions,” held by the Chinese Communist Party have historically been criticized for being a drain on resources and labor. However, in recent days, several state-owned media outlets collectively hyped up the use of old-fashioned thermos flasks with chipped paint at the Beijing Great Hall of the People during the Two Sessions, interpreting it as a form of “frugality”. This sparked mockery from netizens, with comments like, “Why not also mention how many staff members have been replaced while using these flasks to pour water?”
According to a report by the Zhejiang Ningbo state media “Ningbo Daily” on March 13, a batch of thermos flasks used at the Great Hall of the People during the Two Sessions have been in use for over thirty years and the exterior paint has already chipped off.
The report stated that these products have been discontinued, with similar models priced between 30 to 50 yuan each. Staff claim that “the conference requires thriftiness, and any usable equipment will not be replaced.”
Another state media outlet, “Zhejiang TV,” mentioned that the manufacturer of these thermos flasks is located in Pinghu, Jiaxing, Zhejiang. The manufacturer stated that despite the worn appearance, the insulation performance remains reliable.
These written and video reports have become a positive propaganda case for the Chinese Communist Party’s Two Sessions, trending on Weibo.
However, in the comments section, despite some users praising the official media’s viewpoint, more netizens are leaving sarcastic remarks. Some mainland netizens said, “I almost believed it.” and “Can the things used in this place be of poor quality?”
One netizen commented, “Only mentioning the thermos flasks, why not also talk about how many batches of workers who pour water with them have been replaced, how long each batch of service lasts before being dismissed or transferred, to show the durability of thermos flasks compared to humans, where the money is really being spent.”
Some netizens suspect that the main reason the Zhejiang media is hyping up this detail is because the manufacturer is an enterprise from Zhejiang.
Many netizens in the comment section are mocking with emojis.
Related videos have been posted on overseas platforms, with netizens mocking, “Using the same thermos flasks as the dignitaries in the Great Hall of the People, your worth immediately rises.” and “Leaders can wear patched cotton jackets and pajamas, while being served by a large group of security guards, housekeepers, drivers, nurses, and doctors.” and “Ha ha, by keeping fewer mistresses, how many tons of new thermos flasks could be bought.” and “It’s like the boss wearing a Rolex watch and insisting on double-sided printing for A4 paper.” and “Is bottled water expensive, or do leaders just prefer drinking hot beverages?”
One netizen said, “Although the thermos is broken, there are plenty of palace maids pouring the water. Do the National People’s Congress delegates simply cannot hold a meeting without hot water?” and “If they hired fewer water attendants, there would be enough money each year to buy brand new thermos flasks for over three thousand people.” and “They just love this kind of show, pretending to be clean and serving the people, when in reality, it’s rotten to the core.”
Another netizen remarked, “This sees through it all – turning a chipped paint thermos flask into a display of ‘frugal style’ is just putting lipstick on a decaying dictatorship! It’s a sham to deceive the people, fool the world! rulers always take the people’s eyes as child’s play; this is not frugality, it’s a show to deceive the people, a cover-up while the masses drink bitterness.”