Beijing, China - With rhetoric frequently echoing the Great Helmsman, President Xi Jinping has on several occasions given the impression of being a loyal Maoist. But there's one burning issue on which China's leader goes head-to-head with Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping - the war against smoking.
Today, that kind of behaviour would not be tolerated. Under new regulations spearheaded by Xi Jinping, the two former leaders would be subject to "criticism from the masses" for lighting up in public places or during official meetings.
It's not the first time China has tried to ban smoking, but this time the attitude is more clear.
In December, Chinese government officials were told not to smoke in public places, such as hospitals, on public transport or in schools - in order to set a good example for the public. The rules, issued in a government memo, will also bar officials from smoking or offering cigarettes to others when performing official duties, Xinhua news agency reported.
If that wasn't a hard enough blow for government officials, they were then told they would no longer be allowed to use public funds to buy cigarettes.
And in a January follow-up, the Chinese Ministry of Health announced that it would make smoking illegal starting next year for everybody in public places such as buses, restaurants and bars.
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