Putin Gets Censored In China For Putting A Shawl Around First Lady's Shoulders. No one wants to see Russian President Vladimir Putin hit on their wife. So when Chinese social media users suggested that Putin may have been flirting with China's first lady Peng Liyuan when he gave her a shawl under the full glare of TV cameras, the incident was quickly scrubbed from the Internet.
Putin started the social media stir when he wrapped a shawl around the shoulders of Peng Liyuan at a Monday night event during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Peng Liyuan's husband, Chinese President Xi Jinping, was meanwhile chatting with U.S. President Barack Obama.
Putin's gesture was captured on China's state TV, and the video took off on news sites and social media, even spawning a hashtag that roughly translates to "Putin Gives Peng Liyuan His Coat," Foreign Policy notes. Other Chinese social media users hinted at a flirtation. "China's first lady's boundless charm wins over Mr. Putin," said one post, according to a translation by CNN.