⌨On January 18, 2026, Chinese media shifted their focus from the recent Canadian trade breakthrough to the escalating friction between the United States and Europe. In the morning, external and regional outlets like BBC Chinese and DW Chinese reported on President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on eight NATO allies to coerce the sale of Greenland. This geopolitical tension was framed as a direct confrontation with European sovereignty.
Simultaneously, mainland state organs, including People’s Daily and Xinhua, transitioned into a highly synchronized domestic ideological campaign. Throughout the afternoon, editors prioritized the concept of "penetrating" anti-corruption and the integration of Xi Jinping’s legal thought with internal Party discipline. This coordinated narrative emphasized systemic control over cadres, effectively caging power within institutional bars. By evening, state media celebrated the one-month milestone of the Hainan Free Trade Port’s 'closed-customs' status, presenting a curated image of an open, rule-based economy in contrast to Western trade volatility.