On Wednesday, Chinese censors appeared to be actively managing the public conversation surrounding the newly implemented U.S. tariffs. Their strategy involved promoting criticism of the United States while downplaying the details of how President Trump's actions would significantly increase import taxes on Chinese goods.

On the social media platform Weibo, attempts to discuss the specifics of the tariffs, such as hashtags mentioning the 104% tax rate, were blocked. Error messages indicated that the content was not displayed.

In contrast, hashtags that focused on ridiculing the United States or highlighting China's strengths were allowed to trend. These were often initiated by state media outlets. Examples included hashtags like "America is fighting a trade war while begging for eggs" and "China does not provoke trouble but is never afraid of it."

State media coverage mirrored this assertive tone. Opinion pieces in the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, emphasized China's resilience and ability to adapt to trade challenges. One article stated that the Chinese people are not afraid of risks and view external pressure as a catalyst for progress.