China Emphasizes Absent Xi Has Been ‘Strong’ in Flood Response
- Reports about Xi come as flood victims lament local response
- At least 40 lives claimed so far in historic flooding in China
This article is for subscribers only.
Chinese state media is touting Xi Jinping’s “strong and powerful” response to devastating floods in northern China, as the nation’s propaganda machine ratchets up mentions of the president who hasn’t been seen in public since the rainfall began.
Reports about Xi’s leadership in ordering rescue efforts — along with the response from local governments that heeded his instructions to save people’s lives — were featured prominently in front-page articles published Sunday and Monday by the People’s Daily, the ruling Communist Party’s official mouthpiece. China Central Television’s primetime news program on Sunday also mentioned Xi at length.