The coordinated tree planting narrative dominated state media, with identical articles about Xi's "three key words" and "tree planting as national action" appearing across multiple outlets. This synchronized messaging continued from previous days' Qingming commemorations, creating a continuous propaganda theme.
The US-China tariff conflict remained prominent, with Caixin's cover story "US Declares War on Global Trade" setting the tone. China Daily emphasized national resilience against "US abuse of tariffs," while BBC Chinese reported neither side backing down in the "chokehold" trade war. By mid-day, state media pivoted to synchronized articles on "building a strong science and technology country," promoting innovation culture as Xi's strategy for technological self-reliance amid trade tensions.
Military developments continued in the background, with reports on PLA naval activities near Taiwan and Chinese upgrades to Cambodia's Ream Naval Base for "de-risking supply chains."