From spy balloons to chocolates: Chinese propaganda frames Xi’s US pivot

What a difference eight months makes: In March, shortly after the U.S. shot down a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon, President Xi Jinping blamed it for challenges faced by China’s economy, complaining of “all-round containment”.
Then on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden and Xi agreed to open a presidential hotline, resume military-to-military communications and work to curb fentanyl production, showing tangible progress in their first face-to-face talks in a year at a summit in California.
While key issues like U.S. sanctions on chip exports remain unresolved, Chinese state media is now striking a different tone, focusing on Xi’s smile during past trips to Iowa, fireside chats with its residents, and sharing chocolates with Biden.