“Twins” found in Xinhua News Agency photos; discrepancies highlighted. (Screenshot of web page)
Recently, the Chinese regime’s state-run media agency Xinhua News published a photo of regime leader Hu Jintao visiting Qingdao, which shows two identical faces in the crowd. Upon careful examination, the pavement in front of and behind Hu is different, and the Caucasian man on the far left is not really looking at Hu [see left]. The image is actually a compilation of two photos.
The 'Photoshopped' image was published in the Xinhua article “Chinese President Inspects Preparatory Work for Olympics Sailing Event.” The article implied that the algae bloom in the Qingdao Olympic regatta venue was very serious since Hu did not go to the seaside, but a photo of a sail (right of image) is added by Xinhua to prove the “good news” of his so-called visit.
The unedited (top) and edited (bottom) versions of Xinhua's photos with Hu Jintao and his wife's visit to Japan. (Xinhuanet (top) / Internet screenshot (bottom))
It is not the first time that Xinhua has allegedly 'Photoshopped' news photos. In May, during Hu and his wife’s farewell meeting with the emperor of Japan, Mrs. Hu was sitting too close to her interpreter and the interpreter was blocked, making for an awkward and confusing photo. Xinhua News was dissatisfied with the photo and decided to remove the interpreter from the photo, only leaving her chair. However, they forgot to remove her feet, which appeared under the chair [see right]. This photo was published in the Chinese newspaper Jiefang Daily and was jokingly called “Two people with six legs” by the public.
