Trump Welcomes Xi, CCTV Censors Four Shots

China's internet has effectively silenced any mockery of Xi Jinping's 'Winnie the Pooh'

[People News] On September 23, local time in the United States, the special aircraft of Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. U.S. President Trump and his wife Melania were present at the airport to greet him. This event clearly satisfied Xi and the Communist Party's vanity, as mainland media quickly adopted the headline 'Trump Warmly Welcomes', and related news topped the trending search list.

Regrettably, due to the strict internet censorship and selective news reporting by the Communist Party, the mainland public was unable to see several significant moments from the welcoming scene.

The first notable moment was that Xi Jinping still required assistance from Peng Liyuan when disembarking from the plane, mirroring the situation during his recent attendance at the SCO summit and visits to Kyrgyzstan and Egypt. This further substantiates the rumors regarding Xi's health issues. Consequently, CCTV's camera cut from Xi and Peng waving from the aircraft to the handshake with Trump at the bottom of the stairs, a practice that has become routine since Xi's health concerns emerged. In contrast, during periods of Xi's good health, footage of him descending the stairs was always included.

The second significant detail is that six F-16 and six F-22 fighter jets were stationed on either side of the airport. One interpretation is that this is a U.S. Air Force base, making the presence of fighter jets normal; another interpretation is that Trump was showcasing U.S. military strength to Xi. Regardless of the interpretation, it is a sensitive topic for the Communist Party's official media, and thus, these fighter jets were omitted from CCTV's coverage.

The third point to note is that during the performance of the U.S. national anthem, two supersonic B-1B bombers flew overhead. Trump, who was saluting, appeared startled by the noise, and his expression was quite animated. He later exchanged a few words with Xi, who, witnessing the aircraft pass by, attempted to maintain his composure.

The B-1B bomber is an active supersonic heavy long-range strategic bomber in the U.S. military arsenal. As it flew over Xi's head during the national anthem, CCTV referred to it as 'the aircraft flying in salute,' highlighting a specific image of one bomber without clarifying when it occurred. Whether this was a 'salute' or a show of strength by the U.S. towards Xi is open to interpretation. However, it is clear that this kind of 'salute' was likely unknown to the Chinese side and caught Xi by surprise.

This was merely Trump's opening act; the main event was scheduled for the following day. According to the itinerary released by the Office of the First Lady of the United States, on the 24th, Trump will host a formal welcome ceremony at the White House, during which military aircraft will fly over, including a B-2 'Spirit' bomber and four F-22 'Raptor' fighter jets.

The B-2 bomber is one of the ultimate symbols of U.S. military power. Last June, seven B-2 bombers conducted a long-range mission against Iran, dropping over a dozen massive bunker-busting bombs in the 'Midnight Hammer' operation targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, which sent shockwaves around the world, including to the Chinese Communist Party.

Currently, Trump has made a rare display of America's formidable military capabilities in front of Xi Jinping, marking a genuine show of strength. Previously, only Russian President Putin has received such treatment, while other allied leaders have only witnessed F-35 or F-22 fighter jets flying over the White House.

Trump's grand welcome for Xi serves as a way to reciprocate Xi's warm reception in Beijing. This impressive display of military might is intended to send a clear message to Xi and the Chinese Communist Party about who the true leader of the world is. If the CCP seeks to provoke the U.S. on issues like Taiwan, the U.S., with its overwhelming military superiority, will undoubtedly adopt a tough stance. What thoughts might Xi Jinping have after witnessing the power of the U.S. military's most advanced bombers flying overhead on two separate occasions?

The fourth point is that in the footage aired by CCTV, only crowds welcoming Xi are visible, with no signs of protest. However, the reality is quite different. Reports from The Epoch Times indicate that a significant number of protesters gathered outside Andrews Joint Base. Various protest organizations, including the Chinese Democratic Party and the Alliance to Save China from the Communist Party, displayed banners and slogans such as 'Liberate Hong Kong,' 'Remove Dictator Xi Jinping,' 'Organ Harvesting,' and 'Xi Jinping Step Down.'

If the mainland public were to see the four scenes that CCTV has omitted, would they still believe that Xi and the CCP can genuinely stand on equal footing with Trump and the U.S.? Would they still think that Xi's visit to the U.S. is particularly welcomed?

To emphasize Xi's so-called 'extraordinary' status as a major world leader, the official website of the Communist Party of China prominently featured a news article titled 'Xi Jinping Arrives at Andrews Air Force Base in the United States to Deliver a Written Speech.' The content of this speech was also the main focus of the CCTV report. For the average citizen, the term 'written speech' may be confusing; the immediate impression from this news is that Xi delivered a speech upon his arrival in the United States.

In reality, the 'written speech' issued by the Chinese Communist leader was not delivered verbally on-site. Instead, it was distributed to reporters present and published on the official website. This content reflects the leader's or the country's official position, policy proposals, and attitude regarding the current visit, event, or meeting.

Thus, when Xi arrived in the United States, there was no actual speaking event; the speech was directly handed out to both domestic and foreign media, with the Chinese media publishing it in full, while it was seldom seen in American media.

Overall, the speech, which is under five hundred words, conveys a friendly attitude but is filled with clichés and lacks originality. It remains a one-sided narrative, hoping that the United States will align with the Communist Party's vision, which asserts that 'the two countries should be partners rather than rivals, and that achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can coexist without contradiction.'

The underlying message from Xi and the Communist Party is that as long as both sides can profit together as they have in the past, Trump need not pressure the Communist Party or impose a comprehensive blockade against it. However, Trump, who has long recognized the Communist Party's true nature and has repeatedly criticized communism, is unlikely to be misled.

It is evident that the meeting between Trump (Chuan) and Xi (Xi) is not aligned in terms of their agendas. While both sides have their own interests to pursue, they will continue to uphold a facade of decency and maintain their relationship. Yet, is there a possibility that one day they might turn the tables on each other? △