A video appeared on New China TV and YouTube earlier this week called Never Kneel Down.
This symbolises China’s fight-back against US rhetoric – a masterclass in the art of music and imagery, which frames the world’s second biggest economy as the victim.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePlDyhFX9Og
The eye of the storm
The video’s narrator – speaking English in an American accent – says the US imposing tariffs on China while giving other countries a 90-day grace period is akin to the “eye of the storm,” a deceptive lull before the real danger of America’s “deadly tariff storm” arrives.
Bowing to a bully
The narrator says “bowing to a bully is like drinking poison to quench a thirst. It only makes things worse.”
China defiant
China will not bow down to the US, the video stresses. “China will not kneel down,” the narrator says, adding “standing up for ourselves keeps the opportunity for co-operation alive whilst compromise snuffs it out.”
China positions itself as the victim
In a masterful piece of framing by the world’s arch-propagandist, China says it is standing up for the voices of the weak so they will be heard.
“If the rest of the world stands together, the US will be like a small, stranded boat,” says the video narrator.
“China will stand firm no matter how hard the wind blows and no matter how hard it rains.”
Trade talks, anyone?
And so continues the narrative duel between the world’s two economic superpowers.
Meanwhile Beijing remains open to trade talks with Washington. Watch this space.
