Chinese censors appeared to be carefully curating public discussion about the U.S. tariffs that went into effect on Wednesday. They promoted criticism of the United States while downplaying the specifics of how President Trump’s move would increase import taxes on Chinese goods to 104 percent. Social media platforms like Weibo blocked hashtags related to the 104 tariff rate but allowed those mocking the U.S. or touting China’s strengths to trend.
State media outlets took a swaggering tone in their coverage, with opinion pieces in the People’s Daily emphasizing China’s ability to face challenges and external pressure. Prominent influencers on Weibo also joined in, declaring that the U.S. was in decline and that China was prepared to fight back.
However, voices expressing dissent or concern about the trade war were limited, indicating possible censorship of negative posts. Experts suggest that the government wanted to redirect attention from the severity of the high tariff rate to avoid revealing potential economic implications for China.
While individual posts mentioning the 104 statistic were still visible, hashtags related to it were blocked, indicating a deliberate effort to control the narrative and direct criticism towards the U.S. and Trump. The Chinese Communist Party may be trying to manage the situation as they may not have a clear plan on how to address the complications that could arise from the tariffs.
Overall, the Chinese government’s handling of the discussion around the tariffs reflects a strategy of controlling public opinion and directing focus away from potentially damaging implications for the country’s economy in the face of the U.S. trade war.
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