SCMP typo says 'Xi died last year'

The South China Morning Post on Thursday mistakenly reported that “Xi died last year” in an article about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s new military title.

The article, by writer Minnie Chan, is a follow-up story based on a Xinhua report published on Wednesday.



It said: “President Xi Jinping revealed his new military title as commander-in-chief of the PLA’s Joint Battle Command yesterday, as he inspected the command centre wearing a new camouflage uniform."

Citing an expert, the article praised Xi for being able to unite the country’s military establishment, unlike former President Hu Jintao, who it said was isolated by his two deputies Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou.

“Guo is facing trial on corruption charges, while Xi died last year,” the article's last sentence said.

The author obviously wanted to write “Xu” instead of “Xi”.

The typo was seen on page A7 of the newspaper's Thursday edition. The issue also carries on the front page an exclusive interview with Alibaba Group executive chairman Jack Ma Yun, who now owns the newspaper.

In the interview, Ma predicts China will enjoy another 20 years of "enviable growth".

The SCMP has corrected the typo on its website as of Thursday morning.

In 2010, a South China Morning Post carried a story where the Chinese characters for President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) were mistakenly printed as “Hu Jia (胡佳)”, who is a human rights activist and is still under house arrest in Beijing.

Xinhua left red-faced over Xi reference as ‘China’s last leader’ (March 14, 2016)

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