Maths textbook’s ‘ugly, sexualised and pro—American’ illustrations infuriate China

A detail in maths textbooks used by Chinese primary school children for almost a decade has sparked outrage.

A detail in maths textbooks used by Chinese primary school children for almost a decade has sparked outrage. Picture: Weibo

Chinese parents have been left fuming by primary school textbooks containing content seen as overly Americanised, sexually suggestive and ugly.

Images that feature in maths textbooks recently sparked outrage on Chinese social media site Weibo.

Users of the site have criticised illustrations in the books that depict children with big foreheads and small, drooping eyes.

Images in maths textbooks used by Chinese primary school kids have been deemed ugly and inappropriate. Picture: Weibo

The drawings were also described as ugly, offensive and racist, CNN reported.

Some Weibo users thought there were underlying sexual connotations in some of the drawings, referencing little boys depicted with bulges in their pants, and one boy shown with his hands on a girl’s chest.

Another illustration showed a girl skipping rope with exposed underwear.

Some also claimed the images were “pro-United States” because they showed children in clothing with stars and stripes, and in the colours of the US flag.

In another image, stars on the Chinese flag were drawn inaccurately, which led critics to label the artwork “anti-China”.

The face shape of characters and other hidden details have outraged Chinese nationals. Picture: Weibo

The books have been used in Chinese primary schools for nearly a decade.

State-owned publisher People’s Education Press last week announced it would recall all affected textbooks to be redesigned.

Two days later, China’s Education Ministry order that the publisher “rectify and reform” its publications, and have the revised copies ready for classrooms by September.

A detail in maths textbooks used by Chinese primary school children for almost a decade has sparked outrage so intense,

The ministry also demanded the textbooks adhered to “correct political directions and values, promote outstanding Chinese culture and conform to the aesthetic tastes of the public”.

Prominent nationalist influencers went as far to blame the illustrations on “Western cultural infiltration”, and alleged artists behind the designs were employed by “foreign forces”.

Some speculated such figures were working for forces in the US, tasked with corrupting Chinese school children.