22.12.2025 โข The Day of General Promotions and the Tai Po Tragedy
โจState media editors began December 22 by saturating digital platforms with a synchronized campaign for the 'Four Global Initiatives,' framing China as the primary architect of international stability. This ideological push, led by Xinhua and People's Daily, served to counterbalance reporting from independent Hong Kong outlets, which remained focused on the rising death toll from the Tai Po fire, now confirmed at 161 victims.
By early afternoon, editorial priorities shifted decisively toward military authority. Every major state-controlled outlet prominently featured Xi Jinping promoting two theatre commanders to the rank of full general at the August 1st Mansion. This display of central command coincided with a hardening stance toward Japan, as military sources and the South China Morning Post reported on Chinese opposition to Japanese nuclear rhetoric and legislative visits to Taiwan. Late-day coverage integrated these themes into a year-end narrative of 'China as a visionary power,' while simultaneously reporting new trade barriers against European dairy products.
