Contrasting Coverage of California Wildfire and Tibet Earthquake by Chinese State Media

At around 9 AM on January 7th, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County, Shigatse City, Tibet. (Video screenshot)

[People News] This week, the United States and China both faced devastating natural disasters, yet Chinese state media's reporting on these events differed significantly in focus: highlighting severe losses and resource shortages in the U.S. while emphasizing China's disaster response and success.

According to Voice of America, on Tuesday evening (U.S. Pacific Time), a wildfire erupted in the Los Angeles area and has since continued to spread, devastating multiple residential communities. So far, 180,000 people have been evacuated, and at least five lives have been lost. Meanwhile, in China, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Tibet the same day, and as of January 8, the death toll has risen to nearly 130.

Chinese state media and online discussions showcased stark differences in how these two events were portrayed. As of Thursday evening (Beijing time), Baidu’s trending topics ranked “California wildfires completely out of control” second, closely followed by “Rescue efforts in Tibet: Everyone united.”

Describing Los Angeles as a “Post-Apocalyptic Scene”

Chinese state media underscored the severity of the wildfire in Los Angeles. A Weibo post by “CCTV International News,” controlled by Chinese Central Television, described the disaster site as “resembling a war zone, as if the area had just suffered an air raid.” The reports also highlighted the fire's threat to iconic Los Angeles landmarks, such as the Hollywood sign and the Walk of Fame. Terms like “apocalypse” were repeatedly used in the coverage.

State media also reported on the verbal spat between U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom. Trump demanded Newsom's resignation on social media, while Newsom accused Trump of politicizing the disaster.

In addition, Chinese media emphasized public dissatisfaction with the White House. Global Times’ online platform quoted the New York Post, noting criticism of U.S. President Joe Biden for announcing the birth of his great-grandchild during a briefing on the wildfire relief efforts, sparking backlash on American social media.

On Chinese social media, the Los Angeles wildfire has garnered some praise.

“This is truly a beautiful sight,” commented one Weibo user.

“The beacon of human civilization, shining brightly—lit up by the wildfires,” another user wrote.

Weibo blogger "Jokielicious" added commentary on a video of the wildfire: "I’ve never seen a video more representative of late-stage capitalism in the U.S. It’s a metaphor of unparalleled symbolism, a visual masterpiece of decline."

Highlighting Tibet's Disaster Relief Efforts

In reporting on the earthquake in Dingri County, Shigatse City, Tibet, Chinese state media focused on the rescue efforts and successes. A report by CCTV stated that the rescue operations revealed "the light and warmth in the hearts of the Chinese people."

Describing truck drivers transporting supplies to the disaster area dining at a "small, inconspicuous roadside restaurant," the article noted: "The night in Shigatse has dropped to nearly minus ten degrees Celsius. Though it was just a simple and hurried meal, in the cold night of this high-altitude region, this small restaurant provided warmth to people coming from all directions, making post-earthquake rescue efforts faster and smoother, which is their greatest wish."

Xinhua News Agency also published an article on January 10 (Beijing time) praising the post-earthquake support.

Despite at least 126 fatalities, Chinese state media chose to highlight the government's care for the affected residents instead of using the intense language employed to describe the devastation in Los Angeles. Unlike Taiwanese media, Chinese reports did not delve into potential causes of the high casualties, such as poor building quality.

China News Network reported that local authorities in Shigatse City "ensured that affected residents have warm clothing, hot meals, clean water, and safe, warm shelters to get through winter safely."

The stark differences in how Chinese state media covered the Los Angeles wildfire and the Tibet earthquake align with Beijing's usual approach to such events. Critics have long claimed that under strict official control, Chinese news outlets tend to emphasize negative news from foreign countries, particularly the West, while using domestic disasters as opportunities to promote the government's positive image—a tactic described as "turning mourning into celebration."

Although the government did not explicitly compare the Los Angeles wildfire with the Tibet earthquake, such narratives have spread on China's increasingly nationalistic social media platforms.

"California is burning houses, while in Tibet's Dingri, prefab shelters have already been set up," wrote a Weibo blogger with the username "Inclusive Ganges River Water." "I'm not trying to compare, but they don't deserve it."