On December 24, 2012, Xinhua published an English language article entitled "Li Keqiang: A Man Who Puts People first."
The article included several photos showing Li Keqiang, including this one.
Within hours, Internet users began posting claims that the photo was a fake. For example, this screenshot shows an article posted on the same day on the Tianya blog here - - entitled "Why Did Xinhua Use a PS'd Photo to Promote Li Keqiang?" (新华社推出李克强的照片 为什么用PS过的？ - "PS" is shorthand for "photoshopped"). The post was deleted on December 25.
These screenshots show that, also at some time on December 25, Sina Weibo began censoring searches for "Xinhua PS" (新华社 PS).
Several users pointed out that the photo in question looks remarkably similar to one that is available on the Guangming Daily web site here - http://difang.gmw.cn/ln/node_29590.htm.
The article included several photos showing Li Keqiang, including this one.
Within hours, Internet users began posting claims that the photo was a fake. For example, this screenshot shows an article posted on the same day on the Tianya blog here - - entitled "Why Did Xinhua Use a PS'd Photo to Promote Li Keqiang?" (新华社推出李克强的照片 为什么用PS过的？ - "PS" is shorthand for "photoshopped"). The post was deleted on December 25.
These screenshots show that, also at some time on December 25, Sina Weibo began censoring searches for "Xinhua PS" (新华社 PS).
Several users pointed out that the photo in question looks remarkably similar to one that is available on the Guangming Daily web site here - http://difang.gmw.cn/ln/node_29590.htm.
