CCTV FOLLIES: Blinken meets Xi, Blinken blinks
Xi is hailed by CCP Youth League! -Xi deigns to meet minor US emissary -Blinken takes notes -Values of Xi's New Era China non-negotiable -Blinken tickles Xi by saying no to Taiwan independence
There’s team America on the left, team China on the right and master of the universe Xi Jinping in the middle.
Xi owns the room in terms of set-up and coverage. He gets the all the CCTV oxygen as the report focuses on him alone, full of rapt attention to his gestures and all the best camera angles.
“State-to-state interactions should always be based on mutual respect and sincerity. I hope that through this visit, Mr. Secretary, you will make more positive contributions to stabilizing China-U.S. relations.”
The basic gist of the televised coverage is Xi talks, Blinken listens.
Blinken gets a long and lofty talking to. It’s win-win for the planet if the US can mend its ways and accept China’s bold vision for the world. US Secretary of State Blinken is reduced to a nervous primary school pupil getting tongue-lashed by teacher.
“Major-country competition does not represent the trend of the times, still less can it solve America's own problems or the challenges facing the world.”
Noting that the world is developing and the times are changing, Xi said the world needs a generally stable China-U.S. relationship, and whether the two countries can find the right way to get along bears on the future and destiny of humanity.
As Xi pointed out, “the vast expanse of the Earth is big enough to accommodate the respective development and common prosperity of China and the United States.” (Xinhua)
(Breathless phrases like “the vast expanse of the earth” and “destiny of humanity” are either very reassurring or very unreassuring words, depending on how much you believe this guy and his vision of the universe.)
Regular viewers of CCTV recognize the twin modes of acceptible behavior for envoys in Xi’s presence. Be attentive but motionless, or scribble madly taking notes.
“China always hopes to see a sound and steady China-U.S. relationship and believes that the two major countries can overcome various difficulties and find the right way to get along based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.”
Xi further called on the U.S. side to adopt a rational and pragmatic attitude and work with China in the same direction. (Xinhua)
As CCTV shows it, Blinken gets almost no air time talking, other than to heartily convey greetings from President Biden to President Xi Jinping.
The State Department read-out is also short.
A similar readout from Xinhua:
Blinken conveyed President Biden's greetings to President Xi. He said President Biden believes that the United States and China have an obligation to responsibly manage their relations, adding that this is in the interests of the United States, China and the world.
The United States is committed to returning to the agenda set by the two presidents in Bali, Blinken said, adding that the United States stands by the commitments made by President Biden, namely that the United States does not seek a new Cold War, it does not seek to change China's system, its alliances are not directed at China, it does not support "Taiwan independence," and it does not seek conflict with China.
The camera gives scant play to the two delegations; this segment is all about Xi.
The report closes on a long shot of the uniquely-seated Xi Jinping presiding over all.
Chinese viewers cannot help but see the Xi-Blinken meet as an act of magnanimity on Xi’s part because they’ve been primed to see their leader as the savior of China, if not the world, and one need only watch CCTV to know he is generally hostile to the US.
“Emperor deigns to meet minor emissary” is the overall tone of the coverage.
To drive home the power differential between China’s man of the century and a frightened emmisary from the bad, hegemonic US, CCTV opened the news with Xi in full regal mode, presiding over a communist congress with the Politburo in tow.
The Xi-Blinken report was the second item in the nightly news, coming in at the ten-minute mark after the gala presentation below.
The annual meeting of the Communist Youth League provided just the kind of grandiose background Beijing’s image-makers were looking for to set the mood.
The great hall of the Great Hall is packed with thousands of true-believers, young communist who have pledged their lives to the cause. The applause that breaks out when Xi enters the room is deafening and prolonged. A standing room ovation and he hasn’t said a word yet.
Xi strides in, taking a seat center stage.
He is trailed by politburo members who follow meekly in his wake.
The room is rapt with attention for the big man on stage. The dress code is business casual, with semi-mandatory colorful cloaks and fancy headresses for young idealistic communists who hail from minority backgrounds.
The national anthem is proudly sung by one and all. Full-bore China pride on display.
Even Xi can be seen lip-synching a few lines.
Hail to the red star in our hearts!
Hail the Chinese Communist Party! Hail! Hail!
The young communists are being groomed for the rigid, authoritarian, highly hierarchical society in China of the New Era under Xi Jinping, but they are young enough to salute their allegiance with playful enthusiasm and smiles on the face.
As for the old guard, the joy of life vanished from their faces decades ago.
Hail Xi! Hail the CCP! We are ready!
The news closes on the usual sock-it-to-the-US note, a pictorial spread on the continued decline of America. Perhaps in deference to Blinken’s olive branch, it did not include the usual hard-hitting stories of gruesome crime, racial tensions and industrial accidents. Just a review of storm damage from bad weather around the USA.
