Beijing Invokes Make America Great Again in Rare Bid to Ease US Tensions

An airline passenger, traveling from from Chongqing to Shenzhen, reads a newspaper article titled “China’s Position on Several Issues Concerning China-U.S. Economic and Trade Relations,” part of a white paper released by China’s State Council Information Office on April 9, 2025. Cheng Xin/Getty ImagesFrom Dec. 26 to 29, Chinese state media published a rare series of editorials striking a conciliatory tone toward the United States, repeatedly suggesting that China’s development and President Donald Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again” are not mutually exclusive.The four articles, released in quick succession by the CCP mouthpiece “People’s Daily,” emphasized dialogue, cooperation, and mutual prosperity—a notable departure from the confrontational rhetoric that has dominated Chinese Communist Party (CCP) messaging in recent years.