Putin called Xi the Lone Warrior, hmmm.
The concept of face is often misunderstood or overemphasized in simplistic analyses of Chinese culture, but its overarching importance in maintaining hierarchy and status is unquestionable. Xi or those close to him have a rich history of nixing insufficiently dignified nicknames. Only a few years ago, propaganda chiefs had encouraged the affectionate moniker “Big Daddy” or “Uncle” Xi—until suddenly, for whatever reason, such endearments became politically unpalatable; grassroots titles, including the similarly cuddly “steamed bun” or “Winnie the Pooh,” are meanwhile considered outrageous slurs. Even allies are not permitted a hint of mischief—in 2017, apparatchiks rushed to censor an exchange in which Xi’s pal Putin jokingly called him a “lone warrior” when the Chinese delegation arrived late to a meeting.
https://newrepublic.com/article/152923/trump-xi-tale-two-egos