Chinese tycoon Ren Zhiqiang who called President Xi Jinping a "clown" has been&nbsp;jailed for 18 years over&nbsp;corruption, bribery and embezzlement of public funds.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-critic-who-called-president-xi-a-clown-being-investigated-by-communist-party-291294">Also Read:&nbsp;China critic who called President Xi a 'clown' being investigated by Communist Party</a>

Ren had criticised China's response to the coronavirus pandemic under President Xi in an essay. He then mysteriously&nbsp;disappeared in March.

Ren,69, was the former chairman of state-owned Huayuan and considered to be in China's Communist Party's inner circle. He was charged with embezzling $7.4 million in public funds and accepting bribes. He was fined $620,000.

According to Chinese government statement Ren "voluntarily and truthfully confessed all his crimes". The verdict also accused him of abusing power at Huayuan.

"This epidemic has revealed the fact that the Party and government officials only care about protecting their own interests, and the monarch only cares about protecting their interests and core position," Ren had said, adding,"standing there was not an emperor showing off his new clothes, but a clown stripped of clothes who insisted on being an emperor."

Ren had earlier called for greater freedom of the press, however, authorities closed his Weibo account.

Chinese tycoon Ren Zhiqiang who called President Xi Jinping a "clown" has been jailed for 18 years over corruption, bribery and embezzlement of public funds. Also Read: China critic who called President Xi a 'clown' being investigated by Communist Party Ren had criticised China's response to the coronavirus pandemic under President Xi in an essay.

Chinese tycoon Ren Zhiqiang who called President Xi Jinping a "clown" has been jailed for 18 years over corruption, bribery and embezzlement of public funds. Also Read: China critic who called President Xi a 'clown' being investigated by Communist Party Ren had criticised China's response to the coronavirus pandemic under President Xi in an essay. He then mysteriously disappeared in March. Ren,69, was the former chairman of state-owned Huayuan and considered to be in China's Communist Party's inner circle. He was charged with embezzling $7.4 million in public funds and accepting bribes. He was fined $620,000. According to Chinese government statement Ren "voluntarily and truthfully confessed all his crimes". The verdict also accused him of abusing power at Huayuan. "This epidemic has revealed the fact that the Party and government officials only care about protecting their own interests, and the monarch only cares about protecting their interests and core position," Ren had said, adding,"standing there was not an emperor showing off his new clothes, but a clown stripped of clothes who insisted on being an emperor." Ren had earlier called for greater freedom of the press, however, authorities closed his Weibo account.

China jails property tycoon who called Xi a 'clown'

Winnie the Pooh scares&nbsp;Chinese President&nbsp;more than democracy and social unrest. It gives the Chinese president nightmares.

'Pooh' is a nickname for Xi Jinping and the President has used every possible tool&nbsp;to bury this reference, but it continues to pop up every now and then. The latest to toy around with Xi's fear was Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State.

He tweeted this photo with the caption "Mercer and all her favourite toys".

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Mercer and all of her favorite toys! 🐶 <a href="https://t.co/bGal0ui6E2">pic.twitter.com/bGal0ui6E2</a>
— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikepompeo/status/1283197610757632001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Mercer is Pompeo's dog, and among her toys lay Winnie the Pooh. The joke was in the face and netizens could not get enough of it. They cheered Pompeo's sense of humour, and someone even mentioned "Winnie the flu".&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-chinas-president-xi-jinping-fears-winnie-the-pooh-313823">Also read:&nbsp;Why China's President Xi Jinping fears 'Winnie the Pooh'</a>

Pompeo was asked about it in a recent interview "Was this a Winnie the pooh-gate?" The secretary of state appeared oblivious.

However, the tweet was far from innocent.&nbsp;It is in line with Pompeo's scathing attacks on China. The Secretary of State has been towing a rather hard line on Beijing. He has been criticising China daily and way more than the US President Donald Trump.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-mike-pompeo-mocks-xi-jinping-with-winnie-the-pooh-313859/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Pompeo has said, "We have a Chinese Communist Party that is putting freedom and democracy at risk by their expanionist, imperialist, authoritarian behavior."

He has also said,&nbsp;"This is a regime that failed to disclose information they had about a virus." and&nbsp;"We want them to respect the rule of law.

The Secretary of State has also talked about the world uniting against China.&nbsp;"I think we are watching the world unite to come to understand the threat from the chinese communist party." and&nbsp;"We will support countries all across the world who recognize that china has violated their legal territorial claims as well - or maritime claims."

The Chinese Communist Party fears its own people more than anything else including Winnie the Pooh.

Mike Pompeo has been leading the US&nbsp;attack on China. On Thursday, he said that the world will make China pay for the pandemic.

On July 14, Pompeo urged free elections in Hong Kong and&nbsp;even congratulated Hong Kong's democrats for a successful primary.

On July 09, he hit out at China for its aggression in Ladakh.&nbsp;He has previously called China a 'rogue actor' for the Galwan provocation. On July 1, Pompeo lauded India's ban on 59 Chinese apps.

The US Secretary of state has also criticised China for its economic exploitation of Africa and&nbsp;Pompeo has spoken about reviewing the US troop deployment to counter China in the Himalayan region.

He has also claimed that the US will assist all countries that are resisting Chinese annexation in the South China sea. Pompeo has also been campaigning to ban TikTok in the US.

So, what really scares Xi Jinping is democracy, social unrest, Winnie the Pooh&nbsp;and Mike Pompeo.

Winnie the Pooh scares Chinese President more than democracy and social unrest. It gives the Chinese president nightmares. 'Pooh' is a nickname for Xi Jinping and the President has used every possible tool to bury this reference, but it continues to pop up every now and then.

Winnie the Pooh scares Chinese President more than democracy and social unrest. It gives the Chinese president nightmares. 'Pooh' is a nickname for Xi Jinping and the President has used every possible tool to bury this reference, but it continues to pop up every now and then. The latest to toy around with Xi's fear was Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State. He tweeted this photo with the caption "Mercer and all her favourite toys". Mercer and all of her favorite toys! 🐶 pic.twitter.com/bGal0ui6E2 — Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) July 15, 2020 × Mercer is Pompeo's dog, and among her toys lay Winnie the Pooh. The joke was in the face and netizens could not get enough of it. They cheered Pompeo's sense of humour, and someone even mentioned "Winnie the flu". Also read: Why China's President Xi Jinping fears 'Winnie the Pooh' Pompeo was asked about it in a recent interview "Was this a Winnie the pooh-gate?" The secretary of state appeared oblivious. However, the tweet was far from innocent. It is in line with Pompeo's scathing attacks on China. The Secretary of State has been towing a rather hard line on Beijing. He has been criticising China daily and way more than the US President Donald Trump. Pompeo has said, "We have a Chinese Communist Party that is putting freedom and democracy at risk by their expanionist, imperialist, authoritarian behavior." He has also said, "This is a regime that failed to disclose information they had about a virus." and "We want them to respect the rule of law. The Secretary of State has also talked about the world uniting against China. "I think we are watching the world unite to come to understand the threat from the chinese communist party." and "We will support countries all across the world who recognize that china has violated their legal territorial claims as well - or maritime claims." The Chinese Communist Party fears its own people more than anything else including Winnie the Pooh. Mike Pompeo has been leading the US attack on China. On Thursday, he said that the world will make China pay for the pandemic. On July 14, Pompeo urged free elections in Hong Kong and even congratulated Hong Kong's democrats for a successful primary. On July 09, he hit out at China for its aggression in Ladakh. He has previously called China a 'rogue actor' for the Galwan provocation. On July 1, Pompeo lauded India's ban on 59 Chinese apps. The US Secretary of state has also criticised China for its economic exploitation of Africa and Pompeo has spoken about reviewing the US troop deployment to counter China in the Himalayan region. He has also claimed that the US will assist all countries that are resisting Chinese annexation in the South China sea. Pompeo has also been campaigning to ban TikTok in the US. So, what really scares Xi Jinping is democracy, social unrest, Winnie the Pooh and Mike Pompeo.

What really scares Xi Jinping: Democracy, social unrest, Winnie the Pooh and Mike Pompeo

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China jails property tycoon who called Xi a 'clown'

What really scares Xi Jinping: Democracy, social unrest, Winnie the Pooh and Mike Pompeo